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India's Vanishing Legacy: A Zoological Imperative

An in-depth exploration of India's critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable animal species, highlighting the urgent need for conservation and biodiversity preservation.

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Conservation Overview

The Red List Initiative

India's commitment to global biodiversity conservation was underscored by the release of its Red List at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012. This crucial document serves as a barometer for the health of the nation's diverse ecosystems, identifying species facing significant threats to their survival.

Escalating Threats

Initially, the 2018 Red List for India documented 132 species of plants and animals. However, the situation has become more dire. As of the 2023-1 update from the IUCN Red List, a staggering number of species are now classified as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable. This includes over 950 animal species and more than 600 plant species, indicating a rapid increase in the number of species facing extinction risks within India's borders.

Categories of Concern

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorizes species based on their risk of extinction. These categories provide a standardized framework for assessing and prioritizing conservation efforts:

  • Critically Endangered (CR): Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Endangered (EN): Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Vulnerable (VU): Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Understanding these classifications is fundamental to appreciating the urgency of conservation actions.

Critically Endangered

Arachnids (2 Species)

Even the smallest creatures play a vital role in ecosystems. India's critically endangered arachnids include unique tarantula species facing severe habitat loss.

  • Rameshwaram parachute spider (Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica)
  • Peacock tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)

Birds (19 Species)

A diverse array of avian species, from majestic bustards to rare ducks and vultures, are on the brink, highlighting widespread ecological pressures.

  • Great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
  • White-bellied heron (Ardea insignis)
  • Baer's pochard (Aythya baeri)
  • Spoon-billed sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea)
  • Yellow-breasted bunting (Emberiza aureola)
  • Siberian crane (Grus leucogeranus)
  • White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
  • Indian vulture (Gyps indicus)
  • Slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris)
  • Masked finfoot (Heliopais personatus)
  • Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis)
  • Bugun liocichla (Liocichla bugunorum)
  • Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa)
  • Jerdon's courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus)
  • Manipur bush-quail (Perdicula manipurensis)
  • Narcondam hornbill (Rhyticero)
  • Pink-headed duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea)
  • Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)
  • Lesser florican (Sypheotides indicus)
  • Sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius)
  • White-winged duck (Asarcornis scutulata)

Fish (44 Species)

From the depths of the ocean to freshwater rivers, numerous fish species, including sharks and guitarfish, face an extreme risk of extinction.

  • Stripenose guitarfish (Acroteriobatus variegatus)
  • Knifetooth sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata)
  • Wayanad mahseer (Barbodes wynaadensis)
  • Pondicherry shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon)
  • Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
  • Sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus)
  • Dwarf gulper shark (Centrophorus atromarginatus)
  • Indian swellshark (Cephaloscyllium silasi)
  • Garra arunachalami
  • Sharpnose guitarfish (Glaucostegus granulatus)
  • Halavi guitarfish (Glaucostegus halavi)
  • Widenose guitarfish (Glaucostegus obtusus)
  • Clubnose guitarfish (Glaucostegus thouin)
  • Giant guitarfish (Glaucostegus typus)
  • Ganges shark (Glyphis gangeticus)
  • Glyptothorax kashmirensis
  • Kudremukh glyptothorax (Glyptothorax kudremukhensis)
  • Tentacled butterfly ray (Gymnura tentaculata)
  • Nilgiri mystus (Hemibagrus punctatus) possibly extinct
  • Horalabiosa arunachalami
  • Haragi (Hypselobarbus pulchellus)
  • Red Canarese barb (Hypselobarbus thomassi)
  • Pakistan whipray (Maculabatis arabica)
  • Shorttail whipray (Maculabatis bineeshi)
  • Mesonoemacheilus herrei
  • Bovany barb (Neolissochilus bovanicus)
  • Deolali minnow (Parapsilorhynchus prateri) possibly extinct
  • Pookode Lake barb (Pethia pookodensis)
  • Pinniwallago kanpurensis possibly extinct
  • Dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata)
  • Common sawfish (Pristis pristis)
  • Largetooth sawfish (Pristis microdon)
  • Longcomb sawfish (Pristis zijsron)
  • Psilorhynchus tenura
  • Deccan barb (Puntius deccanensis) possibly extinct
  • Puntius madhusoodani
  • Schistura papulifera
  • Bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma)
  • Bengal guitarfish (Rhinobatos annandalei)
  • Smoothback guitarfish (Rhinobatos lionotus)
  • Bottlenose wedgefish (Rhynchobatus australiae)
  • Smoothnose wedgefish (Rhynchobatus laevis)
  • Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini)
  • Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokaran)
  • Hump-back mahseer (Tor remadevii)
  • Triplophysa kashmirensis

Insects (2 Species)

Even small invertebrates, crucial for ecosystem health, are facing critical threats, including specific louse and damselfly species.

  • Pygmy hog-suckin' louse (Haematopinus oliveri)
  • Protostica myristicaensis

Mammals (11 Species)

Iconic and lesser-known mammals alike are critically endangered, from the elusive flying squirrel to various shrews and the Malabar large-spotted civet.

  • Namdapha flying squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)
  • Kashmir stag or hangul (Cervus canadensis hanglu)
  • Elvira rat (Cremnomys elvira)
  • Andaman shrew (Crocidura andamanensis)
  • Jenkins' shrew (Crocidura jenkinsi)
  • Nicobar shrew (Crocidura nicobarica)
  • Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
  • Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)
  • Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)
  • Malabar large-spotted civet (Viverra civettina) possibly extinct

Reptiles & Amphibians (59 Species)

A vast number of reptiles and amphibians, including unique frogs, geckos, and turtles, are critically threatened, indicating severe habitat degradation in their ecosystems.

  • Dehradun stream frog (Amolops chakrataensis)
  • Madras spotted skink (Barkudia insularis)
  • Northern river terrapin (Batagur baska)
  • Three-striped roofed turtle (Batagur dhongoka)
  • Red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur kachuga)
  • Khasi hill rock toad (Bufoides meghalayanus)
  • Adi's day gecko (Cnemaspis adii)
  • Cnemaspis anaikattiensis
  • Kottiyoor day gecko (Cnemaspis kottiyoorensis)
  • Cnemaspis shevaroyensis
  • Thackeray's dwarf gecko (Cnemaspis thackerayi)
  • Chamba bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus chamba)
  • Cyrtodactylus montanus
  • Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
  • Ghats wart frog (Fejervarya murthii)
  • Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
  • Jeypore ground gecko (Geckoella jeyporensis)
  • Satara gecko (Hemidactylus sataraensis)
  • Southern Ghats slender gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus)
  • Hemiphyllodactylus kolliensis
  • Gundia Indian frog (Indirana gundia)
  • Toad-skinned frog (Indirana phrynoderma)
  • Yellow-headed tortoise (Indotestudo elongata)
  • Leptolalax khasiorum
  • Nagaland Asian toad (Leptobrachella lateralis)
  • Asian forest tortoise (Manouria emys)
  • Dzukou valley horned frog (Megophrys dzukou)
  • Garo white-lipped horned frog (Megophrys oreocrypta)
  • Rao's torrt frog (Micrixalus kottigeharensis)
  • Spotted dancing frog (Micrixalus specca)
  • Cave dancing frog (Micrixalus spelunca)
  • Charles Darwin's frog (Minervarya charlesdarwini)
  • Franky's narrow-mouthed frog (Mysticellus franki)
  • Nasikabatrachus bhupathi
  • Leith's softshell turtle (Nilssonia leithii)
  • Black softshell turtle (Nilssonia nigricans)
  • Dattatreya night frog (Nyctibatrachus dattatreyaensis)
  • Indraneil's night frog (Nyctibatrachus indraneili)
  • Assam roofed turtle (Pangshura sylhetensis)
  • Cantor's giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii)
  • Tura bubble-nest frog (Philautus kempiae)
  • Kobo bubble-nest frog (Philautus microdiscus)
  • Sacred grove bushfrog (Philautus sanctisilvaticus)
  • Amboli bush frog (Pseudophilautus amboli)
  • Raorchestes aureus
  • White-spotted bush frog (Raorchestes chalazodes)
  • Green eyed bushfrog (Raorchestes chlorosomma)
  • Griet bush frog (Raorchestes griet)
  • Kaikatti bushfrog (Raorchestes kaikatti)
  • Mark's bushfrog (Raorchestes marki)
  • Munnar bush frog (Raorchestes munnarensis)
  • Ponmudi bush frog (Raorchestes ponmudi)
  • Raorchestes primarrumpfi
  • Resplendent shrubfrog (Raorchestes resplendens)
  • Shillong bubble-nest frog (Raorchestes shillongensis)
  • Anaimalai flying frog (Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus)
  • Sushil's bushfrog (Raorchestes sushili)
  • Rinophis goweri
  • Superb large fan-throated lizard (Sarada superba)
  • Spiny lazy toad (Scutiger spinosus)
  • Island pit viper (Trimeresurus labialis)
  • Shevaroy hills earth snake (Uropeltis shorttii)
  • Amboli toad (Xanthophryne tigerina)
  • Ghats wart frog (Zakerana murthii)

Cnidaria (1 Species)

The marine ecosystem also faces critical threats, with one species of fire coral possibly extinct.

  • Millepora boschmai possibly extinct

Endangered Species

Arachnids (4 Species)

Several more arachnid species are classified as endangered, indicating significant population declines and habitat pressures.

  • Haploclastus kayi
  • Poecilotheria formosa
  • Poecilotheria miranda
  • Poecilotheria rufilata

Birds (20 Species)

A further twenty bird species are endangered, including various eagles, storks, and unique regional birds, underscoring the broad impact of environmental changes.

  • Forest owlet (Athene blewitti)
  • Steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
  • Great knot (Calidris tenuirostris)
  • Oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana)
  • Saker falcon (Falco cherrug)
  • Pallas's fish-eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus)
  • Swamp grass babbler (Laticlla cinerascens)
  • Niligiri chilappan (Montecincla cachinnans)
  • Banasura chilappan (Montecincla jerdoniI)
  • Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
  • White-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala)
  • Green peafowl (Pavo muticus)
  • Finn's weaver (Ploceus megarhynchus)
  • Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis)
  • Nordmann's greenshank (Tringa guttifer)
  • Black-chinned laughingthrush (Trochalopteron jerdoni)
  • Great nicobar serpant-eagle (Spilornis klossi)
  • Black-bellied tern (Sterna acuticauda)

Crustaceans (2 Species)

Two crustacean species are also listed as endangered, highlighting threats to aquatic invertebrate life.

  • Arachnochium kulsiense
  • Macrobrachium lamarrei lamarroides

Echinoderms (4 Species)

Four echinoderm species, including various sea cucumbers, are endangered, reflecting stress on marine benthic environments.

  • Holothuria lessoni
  • Holothuria nobilis
  • Holothuria scabra
  • Pineapple seacucumber (Thelenota ananas)

Fish (Selected Species)

While the 2023 update lists 135 endangered fish species, the 2018 data highlighted several key examples, including the Asian arowana and Golden mahaseer.

The following are examples from the broader list of endangered fish species:

  • Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus)
  • Red line torpedo barb (Sahyadria denisonii)
  • Golden mahaseer (Tor putitora)
  • Deccan labeo (Labeo potail)

Insects (4 Species)

Four insect species, including the Ludlow's Bhutan glory butterfly, are endangered, indicating specific threats to their habitats and life cycles.

  • Ludlow's Bhutan glory (Bhutanitis ludlowi)
  • Idionyx galeata
  • Libellago balus
  • Orthetrum andamanicum

Mammals (55 Species)

A significant number of mammals, ranging from the iconic Red panda and Asian elephant to various bats and dolphins, are endangered, reflecting widespread habitat loss and poaching pressures.

  • Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
  • Hog deer (Axis porcinus)
  • Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)
  • Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
  • Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
  • Banteng (Bos javanicus)
  • Wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee)
  • Hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus)
  • Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
  • Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
  • Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus)
  • Onager (Equus hemionus)
  • Woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus)
  • Kelaart's long-clawed shrew (Feroculus feroculus)
  • Manipur bush rat (Hadromys humei)
  • Kolar leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros hypophyllus)
  • Nicobar leaf nosed bat (Hipposideros nicobarulae)
  • Pomona roundleaf bat (Hipposideros pomona)
  • Western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock)
  • Mishmi hills hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock mishmiensis)
  • Salim Ali's fruit bat (Latidens salimalii)
  • Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)
  • White-cheeked macaque (Macaca leucogenys)
  • Arunachal macaque (Macaca munzala)
  • Lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus)
  • Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)
  • Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
  • Kondana soft-furred rat (Millardia kondana)
  • Kashmir musk deer (Moschus cupreus)
  • Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster)
  • Black musk deer (Moschus fuscus)
  • White-bellied musk deer (Moschus leucogaster)
  • Servant mouse (Mus famulus)
  • Mandelli's mouse-eared bat (Myotis sicarius)
  • Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius)
  • Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis)
  • Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)
  • Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica)
  • Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
  • Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica)
  • Indus river dolphin (Platanista minor)
  • Pygmy hog (Porcula salvania)
  • Nicobar flying fox (Pteropus faunulus)
  • Nonsense rat (Rattus burrus)
  • Kerala rat (Rattus ranjiniae)
  • Andaman horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus cognatus)
  • Sangai (Rucervus eldii)
  • Kashmir gray langur (Semnopithecus ajax)
  • Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea)
  • Day's shrew (Suncus dayi)
  • Gee's golden langur (Trachypithecus geei)
  • Phayre's leaf-monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei)
  • Tenebrous capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus brahma)
  • Blond-bellied langur (Trachypithecus pileatus pileatus)
  • Nicobar treeshrew (Tupaia nicobarica)
  • Nilgiri long-tailed tree mouse (Vandeleuria nilagirica)

Mollusks (3 Species)

Three mollusk species are endangered, highlighting the vulnerability of freshwater and terrestrial gastropods.

  • Cremnoconchus carinatus
  • Cremnoconchus syhadrensis
  • Pseudomulleria dalyi

Reptiles & Amphibians (Selected Species)

While the 2023 update lists 122 endangered reptile and amphibian species, the 2018 data provided specific examples, including various snakes, turtles, and geckos.

The following are examples from the broader list of endangered reptile and amphibian species:

  • Perrotet's vine snake (Ahaetulla perroteti)
  • Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
  • Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle (Chitra indica)
  • Goan day gecko (Cnemaspis goaensis)
  • Wyanad day gecko (Cnemaspis wynadensis)
  • Keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii)
  • Boulenger's dasia (Dasia subcaerulea)
  • Poona skink (Eurylepis poonaensis)
  • Inger's mabuya (Eutropis clivicola)
  • Indian kangaroo lizard (Otocryptis beddomii)
  • Travancore Hills thorntail snake (Platyplectrurus madurensis)
  • Travancore earth snake (Rhinophis travancoricus)
  • Cochin forest cane turtle (Vijayachelys silvatica)

Cnidaria (4 Species)

Four coral species are endangered, highlighting the threats to India's marine coral reef ecosystems.

  • Acropora rudis
  • Anacropora spinsosa
  • Parasimplastrea sheppardi
  • Porites desilveri

Vulnerable Species

Birds (4 Species)

Several bird species are classified as vulnerable, facing a high risk of becoming endangered if conservation efforts are not sustained.

  • Christmas Island frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi)
  • Sarus crane (Antigone)
  • Nicobar megapode (Megapodius nicobariensis)
  • Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus)

Mammals (22 Species)

A significant number of mammals, including large carnivores, herbivores, and marine mammals, are vulnerable, requiring careful monitoring and protection.

  • Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
  • Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
  • Capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus brahma)
  • Gaur (Bos gaurus)
  • Four-horned antelope or chousingha (Tetracerus quadricornis)
  • Leopard (Panthera pardus)
  • Oriental small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea)
  • White-chested bear (Ursus thibetanus)
  • Yak (Bos grunhniens)
  • Takin (Budorcas taxicolor)
  • Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii)
  • Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
  • Dugong (Dugong dugon)
  • Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
  • Stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides)
  • Marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata)
  • Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
  • Rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus)
  • Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
  • Snow leopard (Uncia uncia)
  • Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii)
  • Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)

Reptiles & Amphibians (1 Species)

One notable reptile species, the Olive ridley sea turtle, is classified as vulnerable, facing threats to its nesting sites and marine habitats.

  • Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

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References

References

  1.  Red list has 132 species of plants, animals from India
  2.  IUCN. 2023. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2023-1. https://www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed on 23 January 2024.
A full list of references for this article are available at the List of endangered animals in India Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date. The lists of species provided are based on the available data from the source of truth, which may represent a selection rather than an exhaustive list of all species within a given category as of the latest IUCN update.

This is not professional conservation advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for expert ecological assessment, conservation planning, or policy recommendations. Always refer to official conservation organizations, scientific literature, and qualified professionals for specific wildlife management and policy needs. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.