Name: Sambar  
Characteristics: Largest deer in India, males have large antlers  
Habitat: Dense forests, grasslands, hills and mountains  
Where in Mumbai: Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) & Aarey Forest
Photo Credit: Nayan Khanolkar

Name: Rusty Spotted Cat  
Characteristics: One of the smallest wild cats in the world  
Habitat: Dry and mixed deciduous forests, scrub jungle, and grasslands  
Where in Mumbai: Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Aarey Forest
Photo Credit: RESQCT

Name:  Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher  
Characteristics: Small, colorful migratory bird known as the 'Flying Jewel'  
Habitat: Forested areas, Mud banks near water
Where in Mumbai: Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Karnala Wildlife Sanctuary (Monsoon visitor)
Photo Credit:Mayank Dhanawade

Name: Golden Jackal  
Characteristics: Versatile scavenger, often confused with domestic dogs  
Habitat: Scrub jungle, forests, grasslands, wetlands, and waste bins near urban areas
Where in Mumbai: Bhandup Pumping Station, Vikhroli and Bhandup Mangroves
Photo Credit: Rajesh Sanap

Name:  Bombay Dorid Slug  
Characteristics: Recently rediscovered  (2017) Sea slug species named after Mumbai  
Habitat: Tide Pools in Rocky Coastal areas  
Where in Mumbai: Haji Ali, PDP and other parts of Mumbai coast
Photo Credit: Shaunak Modi

Name: Jungle Cat
Characteristics: Highly adaptable wild cat  
Habitat: Wetlands, grasslands, scrublands, deciduous forests
Where in Mumbai: Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Aarey Forest
Photo Credit: Nayan Khanolkar

Name: Small Indian Civet
Characteristics: Nocturnal small mammal with banded tail and spots/stripes
Habitat: Grasslands, forests, peri-urban areas
Where in Mumbai: SGNP, Aarey Forest, IIT Powai, CEC (BNHS), Film City
Picture credit: Ranjeet Jadhav

Name: Atlas Moth  
Characteristics: One of the largest moths in the world
Habitat: Forested areas
Where in Mumbai: Sanjay Gandhi National Park, CEC (BNHS)
Photo Credit: Eknath Mandal

Name: Zoanthids  
Characteristics: Colorful solitary corals (Cnidarians) found in tidepools and coral reefs  
Habitat: Coral reefs and intertidal regions in marine environments  
Where in Mumbai: Mumbai Coast (PDP, Haji Ali, Khardanda, Juhu, Gorai)
Photo Credit: Dr Abhishek Satam

MUMBAI CONFIDENTIAL: 10 Animal Species You Didn’t Know Lived Here

Mumbai is well-known for Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Aarey Forest, both located within the city limits and brimming with biodiversity amid urban surroundings. Remarkably, it has the highest density of… pic.twitter.com/1NDL4OKkL3

— Mid Day (@mid_day) October 26, 2024