30 மே, 2023
in
Mega
Environment,
UPSC
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES
(C) REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS:
4.The Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus)
The Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus) is endemic to the Western Ghats. This species is confined to the rain forests of the Western Ghats and occurs at elevations of greater than 1000m. This species has been recently described in the year 2000.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Critically Endangered.
HABITAT: Rainforests above 1000m altitude.
DISTRIBUTION: Indira Gandhi National Park and surrounding areas of Anamalai hills, Tamil Nadu.
THREATS: Conversion of forested areas for timber and non-timber plantations, and timber extraction activities.
ALSO READ: Four-toed River Terrapin
in
Mega
Environment,
UPSC
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES
(C) REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
3. Four-toed River Terrapin or River Terrapin (Batagur baska)
Four-toed river terrapin or Northern River terrapin (Batagur baska) is a critically endangered turtle. The omnivorous diet of the river terrapin and other terrapin species, makes them an essential part of the effi cient clean-up systems of aquatic habitats.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Critically Endangered.
HABITAT: Freshwater rivers and lakes.
DISTRIBUTION: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia.
THREATS: Use of flesh for medicinal purposes, demand for eggs, which are considered a delicacy.
ALSO READ: Leatherback turtles.
29 மே, 2023
in
Mega
Environment,
UPSC
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES
(C) REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS:
2. Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea)
Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are the largest of living sea turtles weighing as much as 900 kg. Adult leatherback turtles are excellent swimmers – they swim on an average of 45-65 km a day, travel upto 15,000 km per year and can dive as deep as 1200 m.
Jelly fish are their primary prey. The population spikes of leatherbacks coincide with abundance of
jelly fish, making them important top-predators in marine environments.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Critically Endangered
HABITAT: Tropical and subtropical oceans.
DISTRIBUTION: Found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
THREATS: High sea fi shing operations, harvesting of eggs, destruction of nests by wild species
and domesticated species such as cats, dogs and pigs. Artifi cial lighting disorients hatchlings and
adult and causes them to migrate inland rather than back to the sea. Threats to habitat include
construction, mining and plantation of exotics.
in
Mega
Environment,
UPSC
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES
(C) REPTILES AND MAMMALS:
1. The Gharial
The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is the most uniquely evolved crocodilian in the world, a specialized river-dwelling fish-eater.
The dire condition of the gharial reflects the tragedy of our rivers where we stand to not only lose other endangered taxa such as the Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) but also the use of their waters for human consumption and other needs.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Critically Endangered
HABITAT: Clean rivers with sand banks.
DISTRIBUTION: Only viable population in the National Chambal Sanctuary, spread across three States of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in India. Small non-breeding populations exist in Son, Gandak, Hoogly and Ghagra rivers. Now extinct in Myanmar, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
THREATS: The combined effects of dams, barrages, artificial embankments, change in river course,
pollution, sand-mining, riparian agriculture and ingress of domestic and feral livestock caused
irreversible loss of riverine habitat and consequently of the gharial.
in
Mega
Environment,
UPSC
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES
(B) MAMMALS:
1. The Pygmy hog
The Pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) is the world’s smallest wild pig, with adults weighing only 8 kg. This species constructs a nest throughout the year. It is one of the most useful indicators of management status of grassland habitats.
The grasslands where the pygmy hog resides are crucial for the survival of other endangered species such as Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli), wild buffalo
(Bubalus arnee), hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus), Bengal florican (Eupodotis bengalensis) and swamp francolin (Francolinus gularis). In 1996, a captive-breeding programme of the species was initiated in Assam, and some hogs have been reintroduced in Sonai Rupai area also in 2009.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered
HABITAT: Relatively undisturbed tall ‘terai’ grasslands.
DISTRIBUTION: Formerly, the species was more widely distributed along the southern Himalayan
foothills but now is restricted to only a single remnant population in Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
and its buffer reserves.
THREATS: The main threats are loss and degradation of grasslands, dry-season burning, livestock
grazing and afforestation of grasslands. Hunting is also a threat to the remnant populations.
