Abstract
Tropical and subtropical forest ecosystems harbour the majority of Earth's terrestrial vertebrate diversity, yet
comprehensive multi-taxon faunal assessments combining mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians remain rare due to
the logistical and expertise demands of simultaneously surveying four vertebrate classes. This study presents a
systematic faunal diversity assessment of terrestrial vertebrates across three forest ecosystem types -- tropical moist
deciduous, dry deciduous, and semi-evergreen forest -- in the central Eastern Ghats of India (Andhra Pradesh and
Odisha), using standardised camera trapping, transect surveys, acoustic monitoring, and pitfall trapping protocols at 36
survey sites over a two-year period (2019-2021). A total of 428 terrestrial vertebrate species are documented across the
four classes: 84 mammals, 186 birds, 98 reptiles, and 60 amphibians. Species richness is consistently highest in
semi-evergreen forest (mean 124.4 species per site) and lowest in degraded dry deciduous forest (mean 64.8 species
per site). Forest patch area, distance from the forest edge, and canopy cover are the three strongest predictors of
vertebrate species richness across all classes. Camera trap data document the presence of four large mammal species
of conservation significance -- tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), gaur (Bos gaurus), and Indian elephant
(Elephas maximus) -- at multiple sites. Forty-six species are assessed as IUCN Threatened. Deforestation, habitat
fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict are identified as the dominant threats. An integrated conservation
management framework for Eastern Ghats forest vertebrates is proposed.