The Nicobar Islands rain forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Nicobar Islands, which is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands union territory of India. The Nicobar Islands are in the Indian Ocean, lying north of Sumatra and south of the Andaman Islands. The islands are politically part of India, although physically closer to Southeast Asia. Millions of years of isolation from the mainland has given rise to a distinct flora and fauna, including many endemic species.
Geography
The Nicobar Islands consist of 22 islands, of which 13 are inhabited. The islands extend about 260 km from north and south, and form three groups. The northern group is composed of Car Nicobar, the northernmost island, and Batti Malv. The central group includes Nancowry, Katchal, Kamorta, Teressa, Chowra, Tillangchong, and several smaller islets. The southern group includes Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar and several smaller islets. Great Nicobar is the largest (), highest (Mount Thullier, 670 m), and southernmost island.
Climate
The Nicobar Islands have a tropical rain forest climate. Average temperatures range from 22 to 30 °C. Average annual rainfall ranges from 3,000 to 3,800 mm. Heavier rainfall coincides ith the monsoon winds, which come from the southwest from May to September, and from the northeast between October and December.
The evergreen forests on Great Nicobar, Kamorta, and Katchal are dominated by the trees Calophyllum soulattri, Sideroxylon longipetiolatum, Garcinia xanthochymus, Pisonia excelsa, and Mangifera sylvatica, with Artocarpus peduncularis, Radermachera lobbi, Symplocos leiostachya, and Bentinckia nicobarica also present on Kamorta and Katchal.
The palms Bentinckia nicobarica, Rhopaloblaste augusta, Calamus dilaceratus, and Calamus nicobaricus are endemic to the Nicobar Islands. Areca triandra, Calamus andamanicus, Caryota mitis, Korthalsia laciniosa, Licuala peltata, and Pinanga manii are more widespread species native to the islands.
There are 43 reptile species on the islands, of which eleven are endemic. There are eleven species of amphibians, all frogs and toads, including two endemic species, the Nicobar tree frog (Polypedates insularis) and Nicobar cricket-frog (Minervarya nicobariensis).
Protected areas
thumb|right|Map of the [[Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve]]
17% of the ecoregion is in protected areas.