When examining global biodiversity hotspots, the Western Ghats of India—which include the hill ranges of Kerala—are recognized globally alongside which other major tropical biodiversity region?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Western Ghats of India and the neighboring island nation of Sri Lanka constitute a unified, globally recognized biodiversity hotspot characterized by exceptionally high levels of species endemism. While the Amazon Basin and Madagascar are major ecological zones, they form distinct and separate biodiversity hotspots. Choosing single regions ignores the ecological connectivity and shared evolutionary history between the Indian peninsula and Sri Lanka. This hotspot faces severe conservation threats due to intense human population pressure and habitat fragmentation.