INDO-MALAYAN
Freshwater
(Rivers, Lakes & Wetlands)

The freshwater rivers lakes and wetlands of tropical India and south-east Asia...

Class Insecta

Order Odonata: Dragonflies & Damselflies

Dragonflies and damselflies are usually the most obvious group of insects around tropical wetlands.

Order Coleoptera: Beetles

Order Diptera: Flies

Class Reptilia

Order Crocodilia

Crocodylus palustris, 'Mugger Crocodile', 'Marsh/Broad-snouted Crocodile'. It is found most commonly in India and Sri Lanka, but is also recorded in Pakistan, Nepal and Iran, but is probably extinct in Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Order Squamata: Lizards & Snakes

Varanus salvator, 'Asian Water Monitor'.

For the page on the birds of tropical Asian freshwater habitats

Class Mammalia

Order Cetartiodactyla: Even-toed Ungulates and Cetacea

Family Bovidae

Bubalus bubalis, '(Domestic) Water Buffalo'. This is the buffalo seen in rice fields all over Asia. There are many wild populations of feral water buffalo through tropical Asia, as well as introductions in Africa and Australasia. (It is presumed to be derived from the wild species Bubalus arnee, which has been reduced to small populations in Asia, mostly in India). 

Order Artiodactyla

Family Suidae

Sus scrofa, 'Wild Boar/Pig'. Widespread throughout Eurasia, tropical Asia, and northern Africa, introduced into the Americas, Australasia and Pacific islands.

Places to experience tropical Asian freshwater habitats

Although many areas of south-east and southern Asia continue to be drained for development, there are still magnificent freshwater wetlands to be enjoyed, icluding: Bundala National Park and Talangama Wetlands in Sri Lanka, Paro & Thimpu, in Bhutan and Prek Toal in Cambodia