Checklist Of Mammals Ladakh
Checklist Of Mammals Ladakh

Ladakh, a region in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, comes under the Biogeographic zone 1A - the Trans Himalayas. This zone covers more than 92000 Sq. Km. of geographical area of Jammu & Kashmir. Being a high altitude cold desert region, it experiences harsh climatic conditions which include extreme low temperature and very low rainfall leading to low environmental productivity. This cold desert region appears barren with low number of wild animals per unit surface area. Nevertheless, more than 1000 species of plants, predominantly herbs and shrubs, have been reported from this region. Thirty five species of mammals have been reported from this region so far. Two species of mammals viz., Himalayan weasel and Musk deer have not been reported after 1960 (Otto Pfi ster, 2004) and one species of mammal i.e. Tibetan Sand Fox is rarely seen or recorded; where as a new rocord of Himalayan Goral might be added to the earlier list of 34 species, as photo record this species in Ladakh is recorded as recently as 2017.

  1. Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur) / Bharal/ rNapo / Napo (m), rNamo / Namo (f)
  2. Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) / Chiru / rTsos
  3. Ladakh Urial (Ovis vignei) / Shapo (m)  and Shamo (f)
  4. Tibetan Argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni) / Nyan / rNyan
  5. Asiatic Ibex (Caprasibirica) / Skin (m), Dadmo (f)
  6. Tibetan Gazelle (Procapra picticaudata) / Goa 
  7. Wild Yak (Bos mutus) / Dong 
  8. Tibetan Wild Ass (Equus kiang) / Kiang 
  9. Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) / Shan / rChan / Salabo / Jata
  10. Lynx (lynx lynx)/ Eeh 
  11. Pallas’s Cat (Otocolobus manul) / Tak Shan / Ribilik / Dak rChan
  12. Tibetan Wolf (Canis lupus chanku) / Shang ku 
  13. Tibetan Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus) / Phara 
  14. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) / Whatse / Watsey
  15. Himalayan Brown Bear (Ursu arctos isabellinus) / Den-mo
  16. Stoat (Mustela erminea) / Lakirmo 
  17. Mountain Weasel (Mustela altaica) / Lakirmo 
  18. Stone Marten (Martes fiona) / Kogar 
  19. Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) / Chushram / Chu sRam
  20. Himalayan Marmot (Marmota himalayana) / Phia / Phya
  21. Long tailed Marmot (Marmota caudata) / Phia / Phya
  22. Silvery Mountain Vole (Alticola argentatus) / Zabra 
  23. Royle’s Mountain Vole (Alticola roylei) / Zabra 
  24. Stoliczka’s Mountain Vole (Alticola stoliczkanus) / Zabra 
  25. Cape Hare (Lepus capensis) / Ribong 
  26. Woolly Hare (Lepus oiostolus) / Ribong 
  27. Plateau Pika (Ochotona curzoniae) / Zabra
  28. Ladakh Pika (Ochotona ladacensis) / Zabra
  29. Nubra Pika (Ochotona nubrrica) / Zabra 
  30. Large-eared Pika (Ochotona macrotis) / Zabra
  31. Royle’s Pika (Ochotona roylei) / Zabra 
  32. Himalayan Weasel (Mustela sibirica) / Lakirmo (Not recorded after 1960)
  33. Tibetan Sad Fox (Vulpes ferrilata) / Sili (Rarely seen / recorded)
  34. Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster) / Lawa  (Not recorded after 1960)
  35. Himalayan Goral (Naemorhedus goral) / ridags  (New Record in 2017. GPRS location awaited)