ENDEMIC SPECIES

1. Endemism
By :- Sajid Khan
B.Sc. Zoology(Hons.)
22/14040

2. What are Endemic
species?
-Endemic species are plant and animal species that are found in a particular geographical
region and nowhere else in the world.
-Some species are endemic to a continent while others can be endemic to an island.
-Endemic animals and plants, whose vulnerability is enormous due to smaller populations, are
key to their ecosystems and become a thermometer when it comes to measuring the state of
health of a territory. For that reason, their protection from extinction threats is critical.
-Endemic species are crucial to the health of our planet because of the enormous variety of
living beings they contribute to the environment.

3. The main characteristics of Endemic
species :
• Specific geographical area : They are species whose location is restricted to
certain areas of the planet, which have the specific conditions to ensure their
survival.
• Lower genetic exchange : Natural barriers existing in a specific geographical area
prevent genetic exchange and drive the emergence of endemism and its species.
• Higher vulnerability : By relying on very specific natural conditions and having a
smaller number of specimens, they are more vulnerable to extinction.
• Unique evolution : Because of their isolation, these species end up acquiring

4. Why Endemic species found only in a
specific area?
An endemic species is confined to a certain area
because they are highly adapted to the particular
niche. They may eat only a certain type of plant that
is found nowhere, or a plant is perfectly adapted to
flourish in a very particular climate and soil type.

5. What causes Endemism?
• 1) Destruction of habitat
• 2) Increasing human population
• 3) Introduction of new species
• 4) Insularity
• 5) Geographic barriers
Above factors may affect the natural habitat of endemic species
by forcing them to adapt to new conditions and thereby
endangering their existence.

6. SOME EXAMPLES OF
ENDEMIC ANIMALS OF
INDIA

7. 1) RED-CROWNED ROOFED
TURTLE
• The red-crownedroofedturtle or Bengal roof turtle is
a species of freshwater turtle found in the Ganga and
Brahmaputra River basins.
• At present in India, the National Chambal River Gharial
Sanctuary is the only geographic area where the species is found in substantial numbers.
• It has suffered declines in population due to being harvestedfor meat and shells.
• Fewer than four hundred adult females are thought to remain in the wild, withthe IUCN
rating this turtle as being “Critically Endangered”.
• It is estimated to be a mere 600-1,700 mature population now.
Batagur kachuga

8. 2) WHITE-CHEEKED BARBET
• This brown-headed barbet has a distinctive supercilium, a
broad white cheek stripe below the eye and an orange eye-ring.
• These barbets are arboreal and will rarely visit the ground.
• They obtain most of the water they need fromtheir fruit diet.
• They are found in the forest areas of the Western Ghats, parts of the Eastern Ghats and
adjoining hills.
• Like all other Asian barbets, they are mainly frugivorous, but will take winged termites
and other insects opportunistically.
• They use their bills to excavate nest cavities in trees.
• IUCN rating this barbet as of “Least Concern” with a “Stable” population trend.
Megalaima virdis

9. 3) FOREST OWLET
•The forest owlet is endemic to the forests of
central India. The forest owlet appears to be
strongly diurnal. On cold winter mornings,
it basks on top of tall trees.
•It is threatened foremost by deforestation. It is a member
of the typical owl family Strigidae, and was first describedin 1873.
•It is listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List since 2018, as the
population is estimated at less than 1,000 mature individuals.
Athene blewitti

10. 4) Grey junglefowl
•The grey junglefowl, also known as Sonnerat’s
junglefowl, is one of the wild ancestors of the
domesticchicken.
•Although these birds are plentiful, they are still hunted for meat and the long neck
hackle feathers whichare usedfor making fishing lures.
•This species is endemic to India, and even today it is foundmainly in peninsular
India andtowards the northern boundary.
•Habitat loss is also another threat to the Grey Junglefowl.
•They are classedas of “Least Concern”by the IUCN, with “Declining”population
trend.
Gallus
Sonneratti

11. 5) White-Browed Gibbon
•These gibbons are very small arboreal creatures
and the only apes foundin India.
•It has long arms, almost double the length of its legs.
•Lifespan of gibbon is estimatedto be about 25 years.
•Presently, due to decline in their population Hoolock Gibbons are native to North
Eastern states of India.
•According to the estimatedpopulation there are about 2,600 gibbons in the
Northeast Indiamajority of which (about 2,000) are present in Assam.
•This species is “Endangered”on the IUCNRed List of Threatenedspecies.
Hoolock gibbon

12. 6) MALABAR LARGE SPOTTED CIVET
• The Malabar large-spotted civet also known as the Malabar
civet, is a viverridendemic to the Western Ghats of India.
• It is dusky gray. It has a dark mark on the cheek, large
transverse dark marks on the back and sides.
• The Malabar civet is considered nocturnal.
• Until a few decades ago, local merchants in KeralarearedMalabar civetsto obtain “civetone”,
an extract fromthe scent gland, which was used in medicine, and as an aromatic.
• It is now seriously threatenedby habitat destruction and fragmentation.
• It is listed as Critically “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List as the population is estimatedto
number fewerthan 250 mature individuals.
Viverra civettina

13. 7) BARE-BELLIED HEDGEHOG
• The bare-belliedhedgehog, also known as the
Madras hedgehog, is a species of hedgehog
that is endemic to dry aridregions andscrubby
jungles in southeastern India.
• They are huntedlocally in India for subsistence food and medicinal purposes. They
are wildly perceivedto be a cure for coughs, Tuberculosis and asthma.
• It was formerly listedas “Vulnerable” by the IUCN. It is now known to be locally
common in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, resulting in its
new listing as a species of “Least Concern”.
Paraechinus nudiventris

14. 8) NARCONDAM HORNBILL
•The Narcondamhornbill is a species of
hornbill in the family Bucerotidae.
•It is endemic to the Indian island of
Narcondamin the Andamans.
•Males and females have a distinct plumage.
•The Narcondamhornbill has the smallest home range out of all the species
of Asian hornbills.
•With “Vulnerable” IUCN Rating, it’s population size is estimated to be
around 50-250 individual birds only.
Rhyticeros narcondami

15. 9) Pygmy Hog
• The pygmy hogis native to grasslands in the foothills of the
Himalayas at elevations of up to 300m (980 ft). Today, the
only known population lives in Assam, India.
• The Pygmy hogis the smallest and the rarest wild pig in the
world. Its skin is dark brownish-black in color and the hair is dark.
• Pygmy hogs are diurnal and are omnivores. They feedon roots, tubers, insects and small reptiles.
• Human encroachment has largely destroyedtheirnatural habitat by development, agriculture,
domestic grazing, and deliberate fires.
• According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Pygmy hogis 100-150 mature
individuals. Currently, this species is classified as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
Porcula salvania

16. 10) NILGIRI WOOD PIGEON
• The Nilgiri woodpigeon is large pigeon found in the
moist deciduous forestsand sholas of the Western
Ghats in southwestern India.
• The male has a paler grey crown while the femalehas a
darker grey crown with a pale throat.
• They are mainlyfrugivorous and forage in the canopy of dense hill forests.
• They are best identifiedin the field by their large size, dark colours and the distinctive
checkerboardpattern on their nape.
• They are listedas “Vulnerable” in IUCN Red List withthe estimatedpopulation to be around
2,500-10,000 individual birds.
Columba elphistonii

17. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
 Many rare or endemic species have one or more of the following characteristics:
 (1) They have a narrow (or single) geographical range
 (2) They have only one or a few populations remaining
 (3) They show small population size and little genetic variability
 (4) They are usually over-exploited (over-hunted and over-harvested) by people
 (5) They exhibit declining population sizes
 (6) They have low reproductive ability
 (7) They show specialised niche demands
 (8) They grow in stable and nearly constant environments.
 All of these attributes, either alone or in combination, make a species prone to extinctionat an increasedrate.
 When habitats of a rare and/or endemic species are damaged and/or fragmentedby mismanagement and
various other humanactivities, the distributionranges, population sizes, and genetic variability of the species
will be reduced and its members will becomevulnerable to extinctionat a faster ratethanother species.

25. 9) INDIAN SPOTTED CHEVROTAIN
• The Indian spottedchevrotain is a species of
even-toedungulate in the familyTragulidae.
• It lives in rainforests andis nocturnal. It has a body lengthof 57.5 cm
with a 2.5 cm long tail length andweighs around3 kg.
• It is estimatedto be a mere 6,000-9,000 mature population now.
Moschiola indica

26. 10) NILGIRI WOOD PIGEON
• The Nilgiri woodpigeon is large pigeon found in the
moist deciduous forestsand sholas of the Western
Ghats in southwestern India.
• The male has a paler grey crown while the femalehas a
darker grey crown with a pale throat.
• They are mainlyfrugivorous and forage in the canopy of dense hill forests.
• They are best identifiedin the field by their large size, dark colours and the distinctive
checkerboardpattern on their nape.
• It is listed as “Vulnerable” in IUCN Red List withthe estimatedpopulation to be around
2,500-10,000 individual birds.
Columba elphistonii

27. 4) MALABAR GLIDING FROG
•The Malabar gliding frog or Malabar flying frog is
a rhacophoridtree frog species foundin the
Western Ghats of India.