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

crtically endangered species in india
crtically endangered species in india

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 nameScientific nameKingdom
Adi’s Day GeckoCnemaspis adiiANIMALIA – REPTILIA
Andaman Whitetoothed ShrewCrocidura andamanensisANIMALIA -MAMMALIA
Asian Giant Softshell TurtlePelochelys cantoriiANIMALIA – REPTILIA
Asian Giant TortoiseManouria emysANIMALIA – REPTILIA
Assam Roofed TurtlePangshura sylhetensisANIMADA-REPTIDA
Baer’s PochardAythya baeriANIMALIA – AVES
Bengal FloricanHoubaropsis bengalensisANIMADA – AVES
Bengal GuitarfishRhinobatos annandaleiANIMALIA -CHONDRICHTHYES
Black Softshell TurtleNilssonia nigricansANIMADA – REPTIDA
Bottlenose WedgefishRhynchobatus australiaeANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Bovany BarbNeolissochilus bovanicusANIMADA -ACTINOPTERYGII
Bowmouth GuitarfishRhina ancylostomaANIMADA -CHONDRICHTHYES
Bugun LiocichlaLiocichla bugunorumANIMADA-AVES
Cave Dancing FrogMicrixalus speluncaANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA
Chamba Bent-toed GeckoCyrtodactylus chambaANIMALIA — REPTILIA
Chinese PangolinManis pentadactylaANIMADA -MAMMALIA
Clubnose GuitarfishGlaucostegus thouinANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Deccan BarbPuntius deccanensisANIMALIA – ACTINOPTERYGII
Dehradun Stream FrogAmolops chakrataensisANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA
Deolali MinnowParapsilorhynchus prateriANIMALIA – ACTINOPTERYGII
Dwarf Guiper SharkCentrophorus atromarginatusANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Dwarf SawfishPristis clavataANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Dziikou Valley Homed FrogMegophrys dzukouANIMADA-AMPHIBIA
Elongated TortoiseIndotestudo elongataANIMALIA – REPTILIA
Franky’s Narrow-mouthed FrogMysticellus frankiANIMADA-AMPHIBIA
Ganges SharkGlyphis gangeticusANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Garo White-lipped Horned FrogMegophrys oreocryptaANIMADA-AMPHIBIA
GharialGavialis gangeticusANIMALIA-REPTILIA
Giant GuitarfishGlaucostegus typusANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES
GlyptothoraxkudremukhensisACTINOPTERYGII
Great HammerheadSphyrna mokarranANIMADA- CHONDRICHTHYES
Great Indian BustardArdeotis nigricepsANIMADA – AVES
Halavi GuitarfishGlaucostegus halaviANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES
HaragiHypselobarbus pulchellusANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII
Hawksbill TurtleEretmochelys imbricataANIMALIA – REPTILIA
Himalayan QuailOphrysia superciliosaANIMADA-AVES
Hump-backed MahseerTor remadeviiANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII
Indian SwellsharkCephaloscyllium silasiANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Indian VultureGyps indicusANIMADA – AVES
Indraneil’s Night FrogNyctibatrachus indraneiliANIMADA-AMPHIBIA
Island Pit ViperTrimeresurus labialisANIMALIA – REPTILIA
Javan RhinocerosRhinoceros sondaicusANIMADA – MAMMADA
Jenkin’s ShrewCrocidura jenkinsiANIMALIAMAMMALIA
Jerdon’s CourserRhinoptilus bitorquatusANIMADA – AVES
Khasi Hill Rock ToadBufoides meghalayanusANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA
Kobo Bubblenest FrogPhilautus microdiscusANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA
Kolar Leaf-nosed BatHipposideros hypophyllusANIMADA -MAMMADA
Kottiyoor Day GeckoCnemaspis kottiyoorensisANIMALIA – REPTILIA
KudremukhGlyptothoraxANIMALIA –
Large Rock-ratCremnomys elviraANIMADA -MAMMADA
Largetooth SawfishPristis pristisANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Leith’s Softshell TurtleNilssonia leithiiANIMADA – REPTIDA
LeopardPanthera pardusANIMADA -MAMMALIA
Lesser FloricanSypheotides indicusANIMADA-AVES
Madras Spotted SkinkBarkudia insularisANIMADA – REPTILIA
Mark’s Bush FrogRaorchestes markiANIMADA-AMPHIBIA
Nagaland Asian ToadLeptobrachella lateralisANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA
Namdapha Flying SquirrelBiswamoyopterus biswasiANIMALIA- MAMMALIA
Narrow SawfishAnoxypristis cuspidataANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Nicobar ShrewCrocidura nicobaricaANIMALIAMAMMALIA
Nilgiri MystusHemibagrus punctatusANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII
Northern River TerrapinBatagur baskaANIMADA – REPTILIA
Oceanic Whitetip SharkCarcharhinus longimanusANIMADA -CHONDRICHTHYES
Pakistan WhiprayMaculabatis arabicaANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Peacock TarantulaPoecilotheria metallicaANIMADA -ARACHNIDA
Pink-headed DuckRhodonessa caryophyllaceaANIMALIA-AVES
Pookode Lake BarbPethia pookodensisANIMADA – ACTINOPTERYGII
Red Canarese BarbHypselobarbus thomassiANIMADA – ACTINOPTERYGII
Red-crowned Roofed TurtleBatagur kachugaANIMALIA – REPTILIA
Red-headed VultureSarcogyps calvusANIMADA – AVES
Sand Tiger SharkCarcharías taurusANIMADA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Satara GeckoHemidactylus sataraensisANIMADA – REPULIA
Scalloped HammerheadSphyrna lewiniANIMADA -CHONDRICHTHYES
Schistura papuliferaANIMADA – ACTINOPTERYGII
Sharpnose GuitarfishGlaucostegus granulatusANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Shevaroy Hills Earth SnakeUropeltis shorttiiANIMADA – REPTIDA
Shorttail WhiprayMaculabatis bineeshiANIMALIA -CHONDRICHTHYES
Siberian CraneLeucogeranus leucogeranusANIMADA-AVES
Slender-billed VultureGyps ten uicost risANIMADA-AVES
Smoothback GuitarfishRhinobatos lionotusANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Smoothnose WedgefishRhynchobatus laevisANIMALIA- CHONDRICHTHYES
Sociable LapwingVanellus gregariosANIMADA-AVES
Spoon-billed SandpiperCalidris pygmaeaANIMADA-AVES
Spotted Dancing FrogMicrixalus speccaANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA
Stripenose Guitarfish
Sumatran RhinocerosDicerorhinus sumatrensisANIMADA -MAMMADA
Superb Large Fan-throated LizardSarada superbaANIMALIA – REPTILIA
Tentacled Butterfly RayGymnura tentaculataANIMALIA -CHONDRICHTHYES
Thackeray’s Dwarf GeckoCnemaspis thackerayiANIMADA – REPULIA
Three-striped Roofed TurtleBatagurdhongokaANIMALIA – REPTILIA
Tura Bubblenest FrogPhilautus kempiaeANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA
Wayanad MahseerBarbodes wynaadensisANIMALIA – ACTINOPTERYGII
White-bellied HeronArdea insignisANIMADA-AVES
White-rumped VultureGyps bengalensisANIMADA – AVES
Widenose GuitarfishGlaucostegus obtususANIMALIA-CHONDRICHTHYES
Yellow-breasted BuntingEmberiza aureolaANIMADA-AVES
Yercaud Slender GeckoH emiphylloda ctylus aurantiacusANIMALIA – REPTILIA
–not found–Pinniwallago kanpurensisANIMADA – ACTINOPTERYGII
Haematopinus oliveriANIMADA – INSECTA
Rhinophis goweriANIMADA – REPTIDA
Cnemaspis shevaroyensisANIMADA – REPULIA
Cyrtodactylus montanusANIMADA – REPULIA
Glyptothorax kashmirensisANIMADA -ACTINOPTERYGII
Poecilotheria hanumavilasumicaANIMADA -ARACHNIDA
Puntius madhusoodaniANIMALIA – ACTINOPTERYGII
Raorchestes aureusANIMALIA — AMPHIBIA
Acroteriobatus variegatusANIMALIA – CHONDRICHTHYES
Millepora boschmaiANIMALIA – HYDROZOA
Protosticta myristicaensisANIMALIA – INSECTA
Cnemaspis anaikattiensisANIMALIA – REPTILIA
Mesonoemacheilus herreiANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII
Psilorhynchus tenuraANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII
Triplophysa kashmirensisANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII
Garra arunachalamiANIMALIA -ACTINOPTERYGII
Leptobrachella khasiorumANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA
Raorchestes primarrumpfiANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA
Nasikabatrachus bhupathiANIMALIA-AMPHIBIA
Hemiphyllodactylus kolliensisANIMALIA-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

Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat
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

namdapha national park
namdapha national park

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

Nicobar shrew
Nicobar shrew – critically endangered species in India

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

  1. Baer’s Pochard
  2. Forest Owlet
  3. Great Indian Bustard
  4. Bengal Florican
  5. Siberian Crane
  6. Spoon-billed Sandpiper
  7. Sociable Lapwing
  8. Jerdon’s Courser
  9. White-backed Vulture
  10. Red-headed Vulture
  11. White-bellied Heron
  12. Slender-billed Vulture
  13. Indian Vulture
  14. Himalayan Quail
  15. Pink-headed Duck

To learn more about critically endangered species in India refer here Official IUCN Website Link

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