Coastal Orissa, India Photograph by Alfredo Quarto, Mangrove Action Project, www.earthisland.org/map/index.htm   Southern Asia: Eastern coast of India Mangroves   2,700 square miles (7,000 square kilometers) -- about the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined Critical/Endangered

· Crocodile Heaven
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Crocodile Heaven

It’s the perfect habitat for crocodiles: Dense mangrove roots for hiding, plenty of fish and other aquatic prey, and a warm, tropical climate. The Godavari Krishna mangroves not only provide a perfect place for lurking crocodiles, but also a rich array of aquatic birds, insects, mollusks, fish, and other living things.

Special Features

This mangrove ecoregion hosts an array of plants, ranging from various mangrove species to climbing plants and shrubs. All of these plants have to cope with salty water that changes levels daily as the tide ebbs and flows. Some species of mangroves, for example, can excrete excess salt through their leaves, other species have roots that resist the absorption of salt. Mangroves also have interesting aeration systems. Some species, such as the red mangrove, sit atop tall root systems called "prop roots" that project above the surface of the soil and exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the atmosphere. These mangroves are often called "walking trees" because the tree appears to be standing or walking on the surface of the water. In place of prop roots, the black mangrove uses specialized finger-like organs called "pneumatophores" that project above the soil surface for aeration. Mangroves also serve as a buffer to protect inland areas by absorbing much of the force of waves and storms.

	Male lesser floricans, which have decorative plumage on their heads, perform spectacular displays during the breeding season. During the display they emit frog-like croaks.

Wild Side

An array of wildlife thrives in this mangrove ecoregion, which serves as a nursery for fish, shrimp, crabs, and other aquatic animals. Egrets and other wading birds hunt these small creatures. Flamingos filter out aquatic tidbits through their bills. Spoonbills stir the water with their sensitive bills and grab fish that get too close. These birds are among the 142 species of birds that live here. The threatened lesser florican, a bird that makes its home in tall grass patches, lives here too. And dozens of species of birds stop here during migration to eat and rest. The largest predator of the ecoregion is the crocodile, which is common in the waters of the Godavari–Krishna Mangroves.

Cause for Concern

Only 14 percent of this ecoregion is protected, and even that land is being damaged. The mangroves are being cleared for prawn farms, agricultural land, and urban development. As these lands are developed, more pollution ends up in the water. Farmers divert water; harbors and channels change the flow of the water. The challenge is trying to find a way to provide for the needs of the people who live here and protect the biodiversity of the region.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.