Subject Area of the centre	Faunal Biodiversity.
Year of establishment	Set up in 1993 to deal with Animal Ecology. Subject node of the centre was changed to Faunal Biodiversity in 1996.
Host Organisation	Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). It was established on 1st July, 1916 primarily to explore and inventorise the faunal resources of the country and to collect and document the baseline data with regard to taxonomy, distribution, bioecology, etc. of various animal groups. During the last 85 years, ZSI has grown up to a premier National Institution with 16 Regional and Field Stations spread all over India with Headquaters at Kolkata. The function also includes the studies in the areas like EIA with regard to fauna, survey of conservation areas, status survey of endangered species, etc. Beside, ZSI also acts as a custodian of the National Zoological Collections which comprise more than one million specimens including specimens of other neighbouring countries. ZSI also publishes Departmental journals, Fauna of India and State fauna series.
Location	Kolkata
Communication address	Zoological Survey Of India, 535, M-Block, New Alipore, Calcutta-700 053
Regional Stations of ZSI

• To build up storage, retrieval and dissemination capabilities, with ultimate objective of dissemination of information speedily to the users in the field of animal biodiversity.
• To provide national environmental information service relating to above subject area relevant to present needs and capable of development to meet the future needs of the users, originators, processors and disseminators of information.
• To promote national and international co-operation and liason for exchange of information relating to the subject area.
• To promote exchange of information relating to subject area amongst developing countries.
• To promote, support and assist education and personal training programmes designed to exchange animal biodiversity related information processing and utilising capabilities.

1. Establishment of data bank containing data of repetitive nature on some selected parameters relating to animal biodiversity of the country.

• Around one lakh data on species diversity of different animal groups from Protozoa to Mammalia, which are being continuously stored in Specimen Registers of ZSI since its establishment in 1916. Work is in progress.
• Around 5000 bibliographic references on animal biodiversity and ecology electronically stored for catering referential service of the user. Work is in progress.
• Current data on biological diversity, distribution, endemism, threats and conservation strategies of the following animal groups published as "Faunal Diversity in India" are stored in CD-ROM for disseminating information to the user on the internet.
  Animalia
  Protista (Protozoa)
  Vertebrates
  Protochordata, Pisces, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia
  Hemichordates
  Invertebrates
  Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Mesozoa, Rotifera, Gastrotricha, Kinorhyncha, Nematoda, Acanthocephala, Sipuncula, Mollusca, Echiura, Annelida, Arthropoda (Crustacea, all major and almost all minor groups of Insecta, Myriapoda and Arachnida), Phoronida, Bryozoa, Entoprocta, Chaetognatha, Tardigrada and Echinodermata.
• Current data on biodiversity of the following ecosystems, biotic provinces and bio geographic zones of the country published as "Ecosystems of India" are stored in CD-ROM
  Mountains: Eastern Himalaya, Western Himalaya, North-west Himalaya, Tarns-Himalaya;
  Desert: Thar, Rann-of-Kutcheh;
  Forests; Grasslands; Wetlands (Freshwater and Brakishwater); Estuaries; Mangroves; Coral reefs; Marine; Islands; Western Ghats; Eastern Ghats; Deccan Peninsula.

2. Bringing out Newsletters, bibliographic references and documents related to the faunal biodiversity

• ENVIS Newsletters
• Faunal Diversity in India
• Ecosystems of India
• All Bibliography,(1916-1999)

1. Responding to queries by supplying substantive information on faunal biodiversity in the form of published reports, extracts and other unpublished and analyzed information as far as possible.