Himalayas & High Asia

The rooftop of the world, where ghostly cats prowl above the clouds.

ClimateBitterly cold with thin air, snow and fierce winds.

LandscapeThe highest mountains on Earth and their rugged ridgelines.

Species recorded353

Written profiles7

Groups present7

Coordinates30.0°, 84.0°

About the Himalayas & High Asia

The Himalaya and the high plateaus behind it form the highest and one of the youngest mountain systems in the world, still rising. Altitude does the work here — oxygen at the elevations where snow leopards and wild yaks live is roughly half what it is at sea level, and animals meet that with larger lungs and hearts and blood that binds oxygen more readily. The range also acts as a climatic wall, wringing monsoon rain out on its southern flank and leaving cold desert behind it, so lush subtropical forest and near-barren plateau sit within sight of each other. Species here are often altitudinal migrants, moving up and down the slope with the seasons rather than across the map, and the terrain leaves populations separated by ridgelines.

Featured animals of the Himalayas & High Asia

All profiles →

7 species have a full written profile.

Hemitragus jemlahicus

Near threatenedHerbivore

Eurasian Lynx

Lynx lynx

Least concernCarnivore

Brown Bear

Ursus arctos

Least concernOmnivore

Pallas's Cat

Otocolobus manul

Least concernCarnivore

Most-recorded wild species here

Photographed and identified by iNaturalist contributors in this region, ordered by number of records.

Rhombomantis tectiformis

Insects

Himalayan Brown Bear

Ursus arctos isabellinus

Mammals

Carabus epsteini

Insects

Spotted Owlet

Athene brama

Birds

Dorcus curvidens

Insects

Drepana pallida

Insects

Red-fronted Rosefinch

Carpodacus puniceus

Birds

Coenonympha amaryllis

Insects

Bombus eurythorax

Insects

Asian Honey Bee

Apis cerana

Insects

Indian Black Ant

Camponotus compressus

Insects

Polythlipta cerealis

Insects

Indian Yellow-throated Marten

Martes flavigula flavigula

Mammals

Himalayan Marmot

Marmota himalayana

Mammals

Gomphocerus sibiricus tibetanus

Insects

Baltistan gecko

Altiphylax stoliczkai

Reptiles

Himalayan Griffon

Gyps himalayensis

Birds

Indian Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus ursinus

Mammals

Full species checklist

A further 328 species recorded in the Himalayas & High Asia.

Common name	Scientific name	Group	Records
Mountain Weasel	Mustela altaica	Mammals	193
Nagarkot Kukri Snake	Oligodon erythrogaster	Reptiles	192
Odontestra submarginalis	Odontestra submarginalis	Insects	192
Flatida marginella	Flatida marginella	Insects	191
Indian Spotted Deer	Axis axis axis	Mammals	191
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	Birds	190
Campylotes histrionicus	Campylotes histrionicus	Insects	190
Indian Rhinoceros	Rhinoceros unicornis	Mammals	190
Dicranophyma hingstoni	Dicranophyma hingstoni	Insects	190
Comostola hauensteini	Comostola hauensteini	Insects	189
Rhesus Macaque	Macaca mulatta	Mammals	189
Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow	Colias erate	Insects	189
Imantocera penicillata	Imantocera penicillata	Insects	188
Laelia exclamationis	Laelia exclamationis	Insects	188
Domestic Horse	Equus caballus	Mammals	187
Asian Barred Owlet	Glaucidium cuculoides	Birds	187
Eublemma dimidialis	Eublemma dimidialis	Insects	187
Black-eared Kite	Milvus migrans lineatus	Birds	186
Oreta vatama	Oreta vatama	Insects	186
Domestic Yak	Bos grunniens	Mammals	185
Bryotypella leucosticta	Bryotypella leucosticta	Insects	185
Chukar	Alectoris chukar	Birds	185
Ganges Softshell Turtle	Nilssonia gangetica	Reptiles	184
Large-billed Crow	Corvus macrorhynchos	Birds	183
Flat-tailed House Gecko	Hemidactylus platyurus	Reptiles	183
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	Birds	182
Himalayan Toad	Duttaphrynus himalayanus	Amphibians	182
Vespula orbata	Vespula orbata	Insects	182
Ibisbill	Ibidorhyncha struthersii	Birds	182
Arctornis l-nigrum l-nigrum	Arctornis l-nigrum l-nigrum	Insects	181
Dorcus nepalensis	Dorcus nepalensis	Insects	180
Domestic Cattle	Bos taurus	Mammals	180
Small Copper	Lycaena phlaeas	Insects	179
Greater Coucal	Centropus sinensis	Birds	179
Coral Tree Moth	Agathodes ostentalis	Insects	179
Ditch Jewel	Brachythemis contaminata	Insects	178
Hydrelia bicolorata	Hydrelia bicolorata	Insects	178
Great Blackvein	Aporia agathon	Insects	176
Rinaca anna	Rinaca anna	Insects	175
Bordered Sallow	Pyrrhia umbra	Insects	175
Russet Percher	Neurothemis fulvia	Insects	174
multi-spotted flat	Celaenorrhinus pulomaya	Insects	174
Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Birds	173
Spiny Babbler	Turdoides nipalensis	Birds	173
Marbled White Moth	Nyctemera adversata	Insects	173
Tunicked Bumble Bee	Bombus tunicatus	Insects	173
Prinia crinigera crinigera	Prinia crinigera crinigera	Birds	172
Grey Himalayan Goral	Naemorhedus goral	Mammals	172
Oriental Rat Snake	Ptyas mucosa	Reptiles	171
Sambar	Rusa unicolor	Mammals	171
Ladakh Tortoiseshell	Aglais ladakensis	Insects	171
Gazalina chrysolopha	Gazalina chrysolopha	Insects	170
West Himalayan Bush Warbler	Locustella kashmirensis	Birds	169
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Birds	168
Ground Tit	Pseudopodoces humilis	Birds	168
Himalayan Agama	Paralaudakia himalayana	Reptiles	168
Blood Pheasant	Ithaginis cruentus	Birds	167
Lesser Horseshoe Bat	Rhinolophus hipposideros	Mammals	167
Yamatotettix remanei	Yamatotettix remanei	Insects	166
Chocolate-Tipped Silkmoth	Bombyx huttoni	Insects	166
Himalayan Pika	Ochotona roylii	Mammals	165
Homalostethus tabulatus	Homalostethus tabulatus	Insects	165
Lebeda nobilis	Lebeda nobilis	Insects	165
Parantis triguttatus	Parantis triguttatus	Insects	164
Thick-billed Flowerpecker	Pachyglossa agilis	Birds	164
Pterodecta anchora	Pterodecta anchora	Insects	163
Circe	Hestinalis nama	Insects	161
Rufous-breasted Accentor	Prunella strophiata	Birds	161
White-winged Redstart	Phoenicurus erythrogastrus	Birds	160
Demonax bicinctus	Demonax bicinctus	Insects	159
Himalayan Black Bear	Ursus thibetanus laniger	Mammals	159
Red-spot Jezebel	Delias descombesi	Insects	158
Red-headed Vulture	Sarcogyps calvus	Birds	158
Kiang	Equus kiang	Mammals	158
Diphtherocome fasciata	Diphtherocome fasciata	Insects	156
Yellow Pansy	Junonia hierta	Insects	156
Yellow-bellied Weasel	Mustela kathiah	Mammals	155
Asian Woolly-necked Stork	Ciconia episcopus	Birds	155
Blue Admiral	Kaniska canace	Insects	155
Biula eupatagia	Biula eupatagia	Insects	154
Spotted Locust	Aularches miliaris	Insects	154
Spangle Swallowtail	Papilio protenor	Insects	154
Protaetia neglecta	Protaetia neglecta	Insects	153
Sikkim Ground Skink	Ablepharus sikimmensis	Reptiles	153
Azure Sapphire	Heliophorus moorei	Insects	153
Rhagastis gloriosa	Rhagastis gloriosa	Insects	152
Gram Blue	Euchrysops cnejus	Insects	152
Common Leopard	Phalanta phalantha	Insects	151
Eurasian Coot	Fulica atra	Birds	150
Bamboo Treebrown	Lethe europa	Insects	150
Eastern Barn Owl	Tyto javanica	Birds	150
Moore’s Fivering	Ypthima nikaea	Insects	150
Great Mormon	Papilio agenor	Insects	149
fawn hairstreak	Chrysozephyrus birupa	Insects	149
Red-vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer	Birds	148
Ladakh Urial	Ovis vignei vignei	Mammals	148
Common Birdwing	Troides helena	Insects	147
Robin Accentor	Prunella rubeculoides	Birds	147
Lemon Pansy	Junonia lemonias	Insects	146
Red-billed Chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax	Birds	146
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle	Coccinella septempunctata	Insects	145
Nubra Pika	Ochotona nubrica	Mammals	145
Kashmir House Sparrow	Passer domesticus parkini	Birds	144
Verditer Flycatcher	Eumyias thalassinus	Birds	143
Eurasian hoopoe	Upupa epops epops	Birds	143
Large-eared Pika	Ochotona macrotis	Mammals	142
Scarlet Skimmer	Crocothemis servilia	Insects	141
Rufous-vented Tit	Periparus rubidiventris	Birds	140
Luscinia svecica abbotti	Luscinia svecica abbotti	Birds	140
Spot-winged Rosefinch	Carpodacus rodopeplus	Birds	139
Giant Honey Bee	Apis dorsata	Insects	139
Arichanna marginata	Arichanna marginata	Insects	139
Green-tailed Sunbird	Aethopyga nipalensis	Birds	138
Bensonies nepalensis	Bensonies nepalensis	Mollusks	138
Himalayan Snowcock	Tetraogallus himalayensis	Birds	138
Domestic Dog	Canis familiaris	Mammals	137
Blue-winged Minla	Actinodura cyanouroptera	Birds	137
Shaheen Falcon	Falco peregrinus peregrinator	Birds	137
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch	Sitta frontalis	Birds	135
Common Green-Magpie	Cissa chinensis	Birds	134
Pied Bushchat	Saxicola caprata	Birds	134
Eurasian Magpie	Pica pica	Birds	134
Urial	Ovis vignei	Mammals	133
Himalayan Black-lored Tit	Machlolophus xanthogenys	Birds	132
Blue-fronted Redstart	Phoenicurus frontalis	Birds	131
Himalaya Ground Skink	Ablepharus himalayanus	Reptiles	130
House Crow	Corvus splendens	Birds	129
Chestnut-tailed Starling	Sturnia malabarica	Birds	128
Red-billed Blue-Magpie	Urocissa erythroryncha	Birds	128
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	Birds	128
Paris Peacock Swallowtail	Papilio paris	Insects	127
Black Bulbul	Hypsipetes leucocephalus	Birds	126
Biston betularia nepalensis	Biston betularia nepalensis	Insects	126
Speckled Black Cicada	Gaeana maculata	Insects	125
Chalcosia pectinicornis	Chalcosia pectinicornis	Insects	125
Himalayan Bulbul	Pycnonotus leucogenys	Birds	124
Chequered Snout	Pygospila tyres	Insects	124
Chocolate Pansy	Junonia iphita	Insects	123
Convolvulus Hawkmoth	Agrius convolvuli	Insects	123
Bathroom Moth Fly	Clogmia albipunctata	Insects	121
Straight-banded Treebrown	Lethe verma	Insects	121
Common Grass Yellow	Eurema hecabe	Insects	121
Eurasian Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Birds	120
Green-backed Tit	Parus monticolus	Birds	120
Ipsilon Dart Moth	Agrotis ipsilon	Insects	120
Erebus glaucopis	Erebus glaucopis	Insects	119
Grandala	Grandala coelicolor	Birds	118
Long-tailed Broadbill	Psarisomus dalhousiae	Birds	117
Variegated Laughingthrush	Trochalopteron variegatum	Birds	116
Black Drongo	Dicrurus macrocercus	Birds	115
Blanford's Snowfinch	Pyrgilauda blanfordi	Birds	115
Long-tailed Shrike	Lanius schach	Birds	114
Elbowed Pierrot	Caleta elna	Insects	113
Black-winged Snowfinch	Montifringilla adamsi	Birds	113
Mung Bean Moth	Maruca vitrata	Insects	112
Gray Treepie	Dendrocitta formosae	Birds	111
Yellow-billed Chough	Pyrrhocorax graculus	Birds	110
Habrosyne indica	Habrosyne indica	Insects	110
Grey-backed Shrike	Lanius tephronotus	Birds	109
Tickell's Thrush	Turdus unicolor	Birds	109
Plumbeous Water Redstart	Phoenicurus fuliginosus	Birds	108
Monolepta signata	Monolepta signata	Insects	108
Orange Oakleaf	Kallima inachus	Insects	107
Calvia sykesii	Calvia sykesii	Insects	106
Belionota prasina	Belionota prasina	Insects	105
Grey Bushchat	Saxicola ferreus	Birds	104
Oriental Turtle-Dove	Streptopelia orientalis	Birds	104
Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush	Monticola rufiventris	Birds	103
Setora postornata	Setora postornata	Insects	103
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Birds	103
Tibetan Snowcock	Tetraogallus tibetanus	Birds	102
Common Tiger Butterfly	Danaus genutia	Insects	101
Ladakh Toad	Bufotes latastii	Amphibians	101
Loxaspilates obliquaria	Loxaspilates obliquaria	Insects	100
common argus	Callerebia nirmala	Insects	99
Gray-capped Pygmy Woodpecker	Yungipicus canicapillus	Birds	98
Campsomeriella collaris	Campsomeriella collaris	Insects	97
Pea Blue	Lampides boeticus	Insects	96
Gharial	Gavialis gangeticus	Reptiles	96
Blue Marsh Hawk	Orthetrum glaucum	Insects	94
Homotages feae	Homotages feae	Insects	94
Chital	Axis axis	Mammals	93
Citrine Wagtail	Motacilla citreola	Birds	91
Bharal	Pseudois nayaur	Mammals	90
Siberian Ibex	Capra sibirica	Mammals	90
Aegocera bimacula	Aegocera bimacula	Insects	89
Hyalinetta circumflexa	Hyalinetta circumflexa	Insects	89
Veined Scrub Hopper	Aeromachus stigmata	Insects	88
Yellow Peach Moth	Conogethes punctiferalis	Insects	88
Yellow Coster	Telchinia issoria	Insects	87
Large White	Pieris brassicae	Insects	86
Common Tailorbird	Orthotomus sutorius	Birds	86
common satyr	Aulocera swaha	Insects	85
Green Metalwing	Neurobasis chinensis	Insects	84
Short-tailed Blue	Cupido argiades	Insects	84
Dark Clouded Yellow	Colias fieldii	Insects	83
Palpoctenidia phoenicosoma	Palpoctenidia phoenicosoma	Insects	83
Oriental leafworm moth	Spodoptera litura	Insects	83
Domestic Water Buffalo	Bubalus bubalis	Mammals	82
Trachea auriplena	Trachea auriplena	Insects	82
Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch	Carpodacus pulcherrimus	Birds	81
Green Drab	Ophiusa tirhaca	Insects	81
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater	Merops leschenaulti	Birds	80
Kashmir Nutcracker	Nucifraga multipunctata	Birds	80
Scarlet Minivet	Pericrocotus speciosus	Birds	78
Old World Swallowtail	Papilio machaon	Insects	78
Black-winged Cuckooshrike	Lalage melaschistos	Birds	77
White-cheeked Nuthatch	Sitta leucopsis	Birds	76
Pica pica bactriana	Pica pica bactriana	Birds	75
Joro Spider	Trichonephila clavata	Arachnids	74
Mottled Emigrant	Catopsilia pyranthe	Insects	73
Comibaena pictipennis	Comibaena pictipennis	Insects	73
Peacock Pansy	Junonia almana	Insects	72
Eurasian Bearded Vulture	Gypaetus barbatus barbatus	Birds	71
Slender Skimmer	Orthetrum sabina	Insects	71
White Wagtail	Motacilla alba	Birds	70
Gaurena albifasciata	Gaurena albifasciata	Insects	70
Agrypnus brunnipennis	Agrypnus brunnipennis	Insects	69
Jungle Myna	Acridotheres fuscus	Birds	68
Slate Flash	Rapala manea	Insects	68
Long-tailed Marmot	Marmota caudata	Mammals	67
Melanthia catenaria	Melanthia catenaria	Insects	66
Poplar Ladybird Beetle	Oenopia conglobata	Insects	66
Himalayan Woodpecker	Dendrocopos himalayensis	Birds	65
Nyctemera arctata	Nyctemera arctata	Insects	64
Rufous Sibia	Heterophasia capistrata	Birds	63
Tanaorhinus reciprocata confuciaria	Tanaorhinus reciprocata confuciaria	Insects	63
Indian Red Admiral	Vanessa indica	Insects	62
Himalayan Buzzard	Buteo refectus	Birds	61
Kalij Pheasant	Lophura leucomelanos	Birds	61
Mountain Hawk-Eagle	Nisaetus nipalensis	Birds	60
Indian Tortoiseshell	Aglais caschmirensis	Insects	59
Tichodroma muraria nepalensis	Tichodroma muraria nepalensis	Birds	59
White Point	Amyna punctum	Insects	58
Forficula planicollis	Forficula planicollis	Insects	58
Montane toad-headed agama	Phrynocephalus theobaldi	Reptiles	58
Common Mapwing	Cyrestis thyodamas	Insects	57
Calomera chloris	Calomera chloris	Insects	56
Glassy Bluebottle	Graphium cloanthus	Insects	55
Mainland Asian Elephant	Elephas maximus indicus	Mammals	55
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos macei	Birds	54
Cyana detrita	Cyana detrita	Insects	54
Coppersmith Barbet	Psilopogon haemacephalus	Birds	53
Ruddy-breasted Crake	Zapornia fusca	Birds	53
Rose-ringed Parakeet	Psittacula krameri	Birds	52
Perizoma peculiare	Perizoma peculiare	Insects	51
Eurasian Drone Fly	Eristalis arbustorum	Insects	51
Rock Bunting	Emberiza cia	Birds	50
Illeis confusa	Illeis confusa	Insects	50
Pachyodes ornataria	Pachyodes ornataria	Insects	50
Yellow-breasted Greenfinch	Chloris spinoides	Birds	49
Painted Jezebel	Delias hyparete	Insects	49
Oriental Fruit-piercing Moth	Eudocima tyrannus	Insects	49
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	Birds	48
Common Mormon Swallowtail	Papilio polytes	Insects	48
Paraconophyma scabra	Paraconophyma scabra	Insects	48
Camponotus habereri	Camponotus habereri	Insects	47
Blue Whistling-Thrush	Myophonus caeruleus	Birds	45
Asian Tit	Parus cinereus	Birds	45
Mecodina albodentata	Mecodina albodentata	Insects	44
Machaerota pandata	Machaerota pandata	Insects	43
Pioneer White	Belenois aurota	Insects	43
Sikkimiana darjeelingensis	Sikkimiana darjeelingensis	Insects	42
Western Courtier Butterfly	Sephisa dichroa	Insects	42
Etanna albonotata	Etanna albonotata	Insects	41
Spotted Dove	Spilopelia chinensis	Birds	41
Sirinopteryx rufivinctata	Sirinopteryx rufivinctata	Insects	41
Plain Tiger Butterfly	Danaus chrysippus	Insects	40
Diphtherocome discibrunnea	Diphtherocome discibrunnea	Insects	40
White-throated Laughingthrush	Pterorhinus albogularis	Birds	40
Bradina diagonalis	Bradina diagonalis	Insects	40
Long-tailed Minivet	Pericrocotus ethologus	Birds	39
White-capped Redstart	Phoenicurus leucocephalus	Birds	39
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus	Birds	38
Calonola argyria	Calonola argyria	Insects	38
Black-headed Mountain-Finch	Leucosticte brandti	Birds	38
Grey Count	Tanaecia lepidea	Insects	37
Little Cormorant	Microcarbo niger	Birds	37
Black-throated Thrush	Turdus atrogularis	Birds	35
Indian Cabbage White	Pieris canidia	Insects	35
Spotted Forktail	Enicurus maculatus	Birds	33
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	Birds	33
Martania seriata	Martania seriata	Insects	33
Oriental Magpie-Robin	Copsychus saularis	Birds	31
Giant Golden Orbweaver	Nephila pilipes	Arachnids	31
Migratory Locust	Locusta migratoria	Insects	31
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	Birds	29
Common Acacia Blue	Surendra quercetorum	Insects	29
Speckled Piculet	Picumnus innominatus	Birds	28
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	Birds	28
Ashy Drongo	Dicrurus leucophaeus	Birds	27
Chestnut-tailed Minla	Actinodura strigula	Birds	27
Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros	Birds	26
Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth	Spoladea recurvalis	Insects	25
Anomala lineatopennis	Anomala lineatopennis	Insects	25
Ultramarine Flycatcher	Ficedula superciliaris	Birds	24
Chalky Percher	Diplacodes trivialis	Insects	23
Manoba argentalis	Manoba argentalis	Insects	23
Aquila nipalensis nipalensis	Aquila nipalensis nipalensis	Birds	22
Cyclosa bilobata	Cyclosa bilobata	Arachnids	21
Oriental Skylark	Alauda gulgula	Birds	20
Sugarcane Spittlebug	Callitettix versicolor	Insects	17
Anadenus altivagus	Anadenus altivagus	Mollusks	17
Brown Cockroach	Validiblatta brunnea	Insects	16
Egyptian Vulture	Neophron percnopterus	Birds	15
Macrobrochis pallens	Macrobrochis pallens	Insects	15
Indian Jackal	Canis aureus indicus	Mammals	14
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	Birds	14
Oriental Darter	Anhinga melanogaster	Birds	12
Painted Lady	Vanessa cardui	Insects	11
Lesser Whitethroat	Curruca curruca	Birds	11
Blue-throated Barbet	Psilopogon asiaticus	Birds	10
Longhorn Crazy Ant	Paratrechina longicornis	Insects	10
Crimson Sunbird	Aethopyga siparaja	Birds	9
Lesser Yellownape	Picus chlorolophus	Birds	9
Spotted Rosefinch	Carpodacus rubicilla severtzovi	Birds	8
Ashy Bulbul	Hemixos flavala	Birds	7
Woolly Hare	Lepus oiostolus	Mammals	7
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Birds	6
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher	Culicicapa ceylonensis	Birds	6
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	Birds	5
Irrawaddy Squirrel	Callosciurus pygerythrus	Mammals	5
White-rumped Munia	Lonchura striata	Birds	4
Streaked Laughingthrush	Trochalopteron lineatum	Birds	3
Kashmir Rock Agama	Laudakia tuberculata	Reptiles	2
Oriental Pied Hornbill	Anthracoceros albirostris	Birds	2
Endotricha mesenterialis	Endotricha mesenterialis	Insects	2
Macrocilix mysticata	Macrocilix mysticata	Insects	1

Himalayas & High Asia

About the Himalayas & High Asia

Featured animals of the Himalayas & High Asia

Most-recorded wild species here

Full species checklist

Groups found here

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Amphibians

Insects

Arachnids

Mollusks