What is the difference between flora, fauna and vegetation? Eichhornia crassipes is called as an exotic species while Rauvolfia serpentina is an endemic species in India. What, so these terms exotic and endemic refer to?
Ans: The term flora is used to refer to the total plant species that are found in a particular geographical area. The fauna is the total animal species found in that area, and the vegetation is a broader term that is used for a particular region to depict various plant growth forms in that area.
Endemic species: The species of any living beings that are found in a particular geographical area is referred to as the endemic species of that area. For example, Rauvolfia serpentina is an endemic species found in India.
Exotic species: The species that are not naturally found in a particular geographical area but is either present due to careful selection or breeding or has been imported to that area for any reason is referred to as the exotic species. For example, Eichhornia crassipes is not naturally found in India, and thus it is an exotic species in India.