Latest Topics in News
IUCN Red List of Critically Endangered Species in India
Critically Endangered Species in India
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has a system to identify species at risk of dying out. They call species “critically endangered” when they are in extremely high danger of going extinct in the wild.
The IUCN uses a “Red List” to classify how much trouble species are in. They look at five numbers to decide if a species should go on the list:
- How fast the population is shrinking
- How much total area they live in
- How many individual animals are left
- How widespread and fragmented they are
If a species meets any one of these red flag criteria, it is “critically endangered.” That means the species is at extremely high risk of vanishing from the wild altogether. The Red List helps sound the alarm about species on the brink.
IUCN
- IUCN is an NGO and it works with nations and other organisations NGOs, in the field of environment, especially for the conservation of Species Worldwide.
- IUCN is World’s oldest Global Environmental Organisation.
- IUCN releases Red List which is a detailed description of threats and present conditions of Species found in different parts of the world.
- The most discussed part of the Red list is the category of Threatened species, which contains three sub types:
- Critically endangered species.
- Endangered species.
- Vulnerable species.
IUCN Criteria for determining the Red List status of any species
Critically Endangered Species in India in the year 2024: IUCN
Following Animals are classified as critically endangered in India as per IUCN latest data of 2024. Below are the list of Animals classified as Critically endangered, apart from these animals there are also other Plant species which are classified as critically endangered by IUCN or what commonly referred as IUCN Red List.
Critically Endangered Animals in India in the year 2024: IUCN
Common name | Scientific name | Kingdom |
Adi’s Day Gecko | Cnemaspis adii | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
Andaman Whitetoothed Shrew | Crocidura andamanensis | ANIMALIA -MAMMALIA |
Asian Giant Softshell Turtle | Pelochelys cantorii | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
Asian Giant Tortoise | Manouria emys | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
Assam Roofed Turtle | Pangshura sylhetensis | ANIMADA-REPTIDA |
Baer’s Pochard | Aythya baeri | ANIMALIA – AVES |
Bengal Florican | Houbaropsis bengalensis | ANIMADA – AVES |
Bengal Guitarfish | Rhinobatos annandalei | ANIMALIA -CHONDRICHTHYES |
Black Softshell Turtle | Nilssonia nigricans | ANIMADA – REPTIDA |
Bottlenose Wedgefish | Rhynchobatus australiae | ANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Bovany Barb | Neolissochilus bovanicus | ANIMADA -ACTINOPTERYGII |
Bowmouth Guitarfish | Rhina ancylostoma | ANIMADA -CHONDRICHTHYES |
Bugun Liocichla | Liocichla bugunorum | ANIMADA-AVES |
Cave Dancing Frog | Micrixalus spelunca | ANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA |
Chamba Bent-toed Gecko | Cyrtodactylus chamba | ANIMALIA — REPTILIA |
Chinese Pangolin | Manis pentadactyla | ANIMADA -MAMMALIA |
Clubnose Guitarfish | Glaucostegus thouin | ANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Deccan Barb | Puntius deccanensis | ANIMALIA – ACTINOPTERYGII |
Dehradun Stream Frog | Amolops chakrataensis | ANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA |
Deolali Minnow | Parapsilorhynchus prateri | ANIMALIA – ACTINOPTERYGII |
Dwarf Guiper Shark | Centrophorus atromarginatus | ANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Dwarf Sawfish | Pristis clavata | ANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Dziikou Valley Homed Frog | Megophrys dzukou | ANIMADA-AMPHIBIA |
Elongated Tortoise | Indotestudo elongata | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
Franky’s Narrow-mouthed Frog | Mysticellus franki | ANIMADA-AMPHIBIA |
Ganges Shark | Glyphis gangeticus | ANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Garo White-lipped Horned Frog | Megophrys oreocrypta | ANIMADA-AMPHIBIA |
Gharial | Gavialis gangeticus | ANIMALIA-REPTILIA |
Giant Guitarfish | Glaucostegus typus | ANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Glyptothorax | kudremukhensis | ACTINOPTERYGII |
Great Hammerhead | Sphyrna mokarran | ANIMADA- CHONDRICHTHYES |
Great Indian Bustard | Ardeotis nigriceps | ANIMADA – AVES |
Halavi Guitarfish | Glaucostegus halavi | ANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Haragi | Hypselobarbus pulchellus | ANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII |
Hawksbill Turtle | Eretmochelys imbricata | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
Himalayan Quail | Ophrysia superciliosa | ANIMADA-AVES |
Hump-backed Mahseer | Tor remadevii | ANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII |
Indian Swellshark | Cephaloscyllium silasi | ANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Indian Vulture | Gyps indicus | ANIMADA – AVES |
Indraneil’s Night Frog | Nyctibatrachus indraneili | ANIMADA-AMPHIBIA |
Island Pit Viper | Trimeresurus labialis | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
Javan Rhinoceros | Rhinoceros sondaicus | ANIMADA – MAMMADA |
Jenkin’s Shrew | Crocidura jenkinsi | ANIMALIAMAMMALIA |
Jerdon’s Courser | Rhinoptilus bitorquatus | ANIMADA – AVES |
Khasi Hill Rock Toad | Bufoides meghalayanus | ANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA |
Kobo Bubblenest Frog | Philautus microdiscus | ANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA |
Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat | Hipposideros hypophyllus | ANIMADA -MAMMADA |
Kottiyoor Day Gecko | Cnemaspis kottiyoorensis | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
Kudremukh | Glyptothorax | ANIMALIA – |
Large Rock-rat | Cremnomys elvira | ANIMADA -MAMMADA |
Largetooth Sawfish | Pristis pristis | ANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Leith’s Softshell Turtle | Nilssonia leithii | ANIMADA – REPTIDA |
Leopard | Panthera pardus | ANIMADA -MAMMALIA |
Lesser Florican | Sypheotides indicus | ANIMADA-AVES |
Madras Spotted Skink | Barkudia insularis | ANIMADA – REPTILIA |
Mark’s Bush Frog | Raorchestes marki | ANIMADA-AMPHIBIA |
Nagaland Asian Toad | Leptobrachella lateralis | ANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA |
Namdapha Flying Squirrel | Biswamoyopterus biswasi | ANIMALIA- MAMMALIA |
Narrow Sawfish | Anoxypristis cuspidata | ANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Nicobar Shrew | Crocidura nicobarica | ANIMALIAMAMMALIA |
Nilgiri Mystus | Hemibagrus punctatus | ANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII |
Northern River Terrapin | Batagur baska | ANIMADA – REPTILIA |
Oceanic Whitetip Shark | Carcharhinus longimanus | ANIMADA -CHONDRICHTHYES |
Pakistan Whipray | Maculabatis arabica | ANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Peacock Tarantula | Poecilotheria metallica | ANIMADA -ARACHNIDA |
Pink-headed Duck | Rhodonessa caryophyllacea | ANIMALIA-AVES |
Pookode Lake Barb | Pethia pookodensis | ANIMADA – ACTINOPTERYGII |
Red Canarese Barb | Hypselobarbus thomassi | ANIMADA – ACTINOPTERYGII |
Red-crowned Roofed Turtle | Batagur kachuga | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
Red-headed Vulture | Sarcogyps calvus | ANIMADA – AVES |
Sand Tiger Shark | Carcharías taurus | ANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Satara Gecko | Hemidactylus sataraensis | ANIMADA – REPULIA |
Scalloped Hammerhead | Sphyrna lewini | ANIMADA -CHONDRICHTHYES |
Schistura papulifera | ANIMADA – ACTINOPTERYGII | |
Sharpnose Guitarfish | Glaucostegus granulatus | ANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Shevaroy Hills Earth Snake | Uropeltis shorttii | ANIMADA – REPTIDA |
Shorttail Whipray | Maculabatis bineeshi | ANIMALIA -CHONDRICHTHYES |
Siberian Crane | Leucogeranus leucogeranus | ANIMADA-AVES |
Slender-billed Vulture | Gyps ten uicost ris | ANIMADA-AVES |
Smoothback Guitarfish | Rhinobatos lionotus | ANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES |
Smoothnose Wedgefish | Rhynchobatus laevis | ANIMALIA- CHONDRICHTHYES |
Sociable Lapwing | Vanellus gregarios | ANIMADA-AVES |
Spoon-billed Sandpiper | Calidris pygmaea | ANIMADA-AVES |
Spotted Dancing Frog | Micrixalus specca | ANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA |
Stripenose Guitarfish | ||
Sumatran Rhinoceros | Dicerorhinus sumatrensis | ANIMADA -MAMMADA |
Superb Large Fan-throated Lizard | Sarada superba | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
Tentacled Butterfly Ray | Gymnura tentaculata | ANIMALIA -CHONDRICHTHYES |
Thackeray’s Dwarf Gecko | Cnemaspis thackerayi | ANIMADA – REPULIA |
Three-striped Roofed Turtle | Batagurdhongoka | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
Tura Bubblenest Frog | Philautus kempiae | ANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA |
Wayanad Mahseer | Barbodes wynaadensis | ANIMALIA – ACTINOPTERYGII |
White-bellied Heron | Ardea insignis | ANIMADA-AVES |
White-rumped Vulture | Gyps bengalensis | ANIMADA – AVES |
Widenose Guitarfish | Glaucostegus obtusus | ANIMALIA-CHONDRICHTHYES |
Yellow-breasted Bunting | Emberiza aureola | ANIMADA-AVES |
Yercaud Slender Gecko | H emiphylloda ctylus aurantiacus | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA |
–not found– | Pinniwallago kanpurensis | ANIMADA – ACTINOPTERYGII |
— | Haematopinus oliveri | ANIMADA – INSECTA |
– | Rhinophis goweri | ANIMADA – REPTIDA |
Cnemaspis shevaroyensis | ANIMADA – REPULIA | |
Cyrtodactylus montanus | ANIMADA – REPULIA | |
Glyptothorax kashmirensis | ANIMADA -ACTINOPTERYGII | |
Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica | ANIMADA -ARACHNIDA | |
Puntius madhusoodani | ANIMALIA – ACTINOPTERYGII | |
Raorchestes aureus | ANIMALIA — AMPHIBIA | |
Acroteriobatus variegatus | ANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES | |
Millepora boschmai | ANIMALIA – HYDROZOA | |
Protosticta myristicaensis | ANIMALIA – INSECTA | |
Cnemaspis anaikattiensis | ANIMALIA – REPTILIA | |
Mesonoemacheilus herrei | ANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII | |
Psilorhynchus tenura | ANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII | |
Triplophysa kashmirensis | ANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII | |
Garra arunachalami | ANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII | |
Leptobrachella khasiorum | ANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA | |
Raorchestes primarrumpfi | ANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA | |
Nasikabatrachus bhupathi | ANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA | |
Hemiphyllodactylus kolliensis | ANIMALIA-REPTILIA |
Some of the Critically Endangered Species of India
Below we discuss some of the Critically endangered species of India in more detail, every species can’t be covered here as the list is huge.
Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat
The Kolar leaf-nosed bat is a species only found in India that is at extremely high risk of extinction. This tiny bat gets its name from its unique nose that is shaped like a leaf.
These bats live in just one cave in the Kolar district of the Indian state of Karnataka. There are only about 150-200 mature, adult Kolar leaf-nosed bats left in the world. That is why the International Union for Conservation of Nature has officially declared this a “critically endangered” species.
The bats inhabit shrublands and caves in their small native range. They face threats from:
- Mining and quarrying activities in the region
- Logging and deforestation removing their habitat
- Agricultural and forestry pollution seeping into their cave home
Large Rock Rat
The Large Rock Rat is an impressively big rodent found only in the Western Ghats mountain range of India. This species is also called the Elvira Rat. They get their name from their rock-dwelling lifestyle, making forested rocky areas and inland cliffs their home.
These rats are endemic to the forests and shrublands of Tamil Nadu state in India. Their range is limited to this region along the Western Ghats mountains.
The Large Rock Rat is facing severe threats that put its future survival at risk:
- Agricultural expansion of crops and tree plantations is destroying habitat
- Mining and quarrying operations are encroaching on its rocky domain
- Logging and harvesting of wood takes away the forest shelter these rats need
Namdapha Flying Squirrel
The Namdapha Flying Squirrel is an extremely endangered species of squirrel found only in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. These nocturnal, tree-dwelling squirrels are endemic to just one location – Namdapha National Park.
This rare flying squirrel is at high risk of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies the species as critically endangered. It may live restrictively in a single valley in its native national park.
There are ongoing threats to this squirrel’s limited habitat from:
- Agricultural crops and plantations reducing its forest habitat
- Logging and tree harvesting diminishing the forests it depends on
- Hunting and trapping of forest wildlife that could affect it
- Landslides, avalanches, storms and flooding that could wipe out its tiny range
With the Namdapha Flying Squirrel existing precariously in only one park valley, it is extremely vulnerable. Protecting what little habitat it has left in Namdapha National Park is urgently needed to keep this rare Indian flying squirrel from vanishing forever.
Nicobar Shrew
The Nicobar shrew is a small, nocturnal mammal that is endemic to Great Nicobar Island in India. This means the Nicobar shrew is found nowhere else in the world except this Indian island habitat.
This rare shrew lives exclusively in the tropical moist forests on Great Nicobar, nesting among the leaf litter on the forest floor during the day. It has been classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a critically endangered species facing an extremely high risk of extinction.
Multiple threats put the limited forest home of the Nicobar shrew in jeopardy:
- Logging and tree harvesting reduces its habitat
- Development of housing and urban infrastructure destroys forest
- Agricultural crops and plantations replace native forest
- Storm flooding events alter its tropical ecosystem
- Earthquakes and tsunamis change the island landscape
With such a small native range uniquely restricted to a single Indian island, the fate of the Nicobar shrew hangs in a fragile balance.
Hangul
The Hangul, also referred to as the Kashmir stag, is a critically endangered deer found only in the mountains of Kashmir, India. With only 100-150 mature adult Hangul deer remaining, this species is at extremely high risk of extinction.
These deer inhabit the forests and grasslands of Kashmir. However, their population has been in steep decline due to multiple threatening factors:
- Livestock grazing and ranching conflicts
- Habitat fragmentation from land use changes
- Poaching and trapping of the deer
- Civil and military unrest in the region
- Lack of genetic diversity
The Hangul is fully protected under Indian wildlife law, listed on the highest levels of endangered species schedules.
Pygmy Hog
The Pygmy Hog is the smallest and most endangered wild pig in the world. This tiny hog is found only in the Himalayan foothills of India. With just 100-250 Pygmy Hogs left, the species is at high risk of vanishing.
These tiny pigs rely on specialized grassland habitat in Assam, India. But their limited ecosystem is being increasingly threatened by:
- Habitat loss from human settlements and agricultural crops
- Livestock grazing that outcompetes native species
- Logging and harvesting of forest resources
- Poaching and predation from tigers
- Unnatural fire suppression allowing tree encroachment
Critically Endangered Birds in India
On June 10, 2021, Union Minister for Environment and Forests, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha, gave details of Critically Endangered Species of Birds in India. He stated– According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of birds, the information contained in the IUCN Red list version 2013.2 indicates that 15 species of birds from India are critically endangered.
Critically Endangered Birds in India
- Baer’s Pochard
- Forest Owlet
- Great Indian Bustard
- Bengal Florican
- Siberian Crane
- Spoon-billed Sandpiper
- Sociable Lapwing
- Jerdon’s Courser
- White-backed Vulture
- Red-headed Vulture
- White-bellied Heron
- Slender-billed Vulture
- Indian Vulture
- Himalayan Quail
- Pink-headed Duck
To learn more about critically endangered species in India refer here Official IUCN Website Link
Every piece of work done by you is really very helpful .
It’s a timesaver
We owe you a lot for the help
Thanks a Lot for these kind words. Means a Lot!
great…you all have done fab job must say..keep it up for so many students out there who all trust you.
Thanks a lot for your beautiful words!. will keep Trying our best.
IT IS VERY NICE ARTICLE FOR ALL CIVIL SERVICES ASPIRANT , I AM VERY HAPPY ,THANK YOU SO MUCH GOOD WORKING GOD BLESS YOU
Thankyou for the kind words! Always appreciated!
i seriously thank you and your team for this beautiful presentation, this is really helpful..lots of thanks once again..!
Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation and encouragement!