In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat? 1. Tamil Nadu 2. Kerala 3. Karnataka 4. Andhra Pradesh Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

The answer is A (1, 2 and 3 only). The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) is endemic to the Western Ghats, and its natural range covers Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Known sites include Silent Valley in Kerala, Anamalai in Tamil Nadu, and Sharavathi Valley and Kudremukh in Karnataka.

Statement 4 is wrong. Andhra Pradesh has no natural population, because the species is confined to the Western Ghats and does not extend into the Eastern Ghats.

• Option B leaves out Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which are both within the species' range.
• Option C wrongly includes Andhra Pradesh.
• Option D also includes Andhra Pradesh.

The core concept is the endemism of Western Ghats fauna. This links to the Western Ghats' inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, which is a frequent Mains theme on conservation versus development. The species is listed as Endangered by the IUCN and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Trap: Aspirants often assume that any southern state with forest cover hosts the species, and so pick the option that includes Andhra Pradesh.