Meet 10 Rare and Fascinating Animal Species Found Only in India

In the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic Era, about 335 to 175 million years ago, there existed a supercontinent called Pangea.

This massive landmass was formed by the collision and merger of several smaller continents, creating a unified landmass on Earth.

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However, due to continental drift, Pangea began to break apart during the Jurassic period, leading to the formation of the continents we know today.

As a result, animals, trees, and other organisms that were once able to move freely across Pangea were isolated on different continents.

This resulted in animal diversification so that certain species evolved only on one continent and were not found elsewhere.

One such example is the panda, which is native to China and found nowhere else in the world. Another example is the gharial, which is native to the Indian subcontinent and is not found anywhere else.

So, in this article, we will look at the top 10 animal species that are unique to India and found nowhere else in the world.

These unique species have adapted to India’s specific environment, making them truly unique in the animal kingdom.

Incredible List of Indian Animals You Can’t Find Outside India

Below is a list of 10 rare and unique animal species native to India that are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and poaching. Some of these species include:

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No.	animal species	find location	State/Province/Autonomous Region/Municipality	Important information
1	Asiatic lion	gir national park	gujarat	Asiatic lions are the only species in the world, with only about 674 remaining.
2	Great Indian Bustard	rajasthan and gujarat	Rajasthan, Gujarat	The heaviest flying bird, it is critically endangered due to habitat loss and hunting, with a population of about 150 individuals.
3	three-gai deer	khepur ramjo national park	Manipur	Also known as the Dancing Deer, this species is restricted to floating grasslands and numbers around 260 individuals.
4	lion-tailed macaque	western ghats	kerala, karnataka	An endangered primate known for its distinctive mane; its habitat is threatened by deforestation.
5	Nilgiri Taal	Nilgiri Hills and Western Ghats	tamil nadu, kerala	See more : Can You Spot 451 among 951 in 20 Seconds? Explanation and Solution to the Optical Illusion The goat population has declined by around 2,500-3,000 due to habitat loss and poaching.
6	Kashmir Stag (Korean)	Dachigan National Park	jammu and kashmir	A critically endangered deer with a population of approximately 150 individuals, threatened mainly by habitat fragmentation.
7	malabar civet	western ghats	kerala	One of India’s rarest mammals faces extinction due to habitat destruction and hunting.
8	dwarf pig	manas national park	assam	The smallest wild boars in the world, with less than 250 left; they are shy and nocturnal.
9	nilgiri bluebird	nilgiri mountains	tamil nadu	A small bird that is endangered due to habitat loss and is found primarily in mountainous grasslands.
10	Ganges river dolphin	ganges river	Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal	These dolphins, India’s national aquatic animal, are nearly blind and rely on echolocation to hunt.
11	Indian giant squirrel	western ghats	Maharashtra	Known for its large size and colorful fur; it plays an important role in seed dispersal within its ecosystem.
12	purple frog	western ghats	kerala	This unique amphibian spends most of its life underground. It emerges and breeds during the monsoon.
13	Nicobar Pigeon	See more : Optical Illusion Brain Challenge: If you have 50/50 Vision Find the number 4988 among 4908 in 12 Secs nicobar islands	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	A unique pigeon species that is critically endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
14	Indian pangolin	various regions	travel across india	Critically endangered due to poaching for their scales, pangolins are the most trafficked mammal globally.
15	Nandafar flying squirrel	nandapa national park	arunachal pradesh	An elusive species found only in this national park; it is threatened by habitat loss.
16	bengal tiger	various national parks	travel across india	India’s iconic national animal; its population has been decimated due to poaching and habitat destruction.
No. 17	Indian gharial	Ganges River and its tributaries	Uttar Pradesh, Bihar	Critically endangered crocodile species that feeds primarily on fish; conservation efforts are ongoing.
18	indian rhinoceros	Kaziranga National Park	assam	Known for its single horn; the population has rebounded due to successful conservation efforts but remains fragile.
19	snow leopard	Himalayan region	jammu and kashmir	Adapted to cold mountain environments; they are elusive and primarily nocturnal predators.
20	Bugon Leochla	Eagle’s Nest Wildlife Sanctuary	arunachal pradesh	A critically endangered bird discovered in the early 2000s, there are currently only about 20-22 individuals left due to habitat loss.

Source: Big Cat Association of India

1. Asiatic Lion

• Location: Gir National Park, Gujarat
• Population: approximately 674 people
• Description: Last remaining population of Asiatic lions; endangered due to habitat loss and poaching.
• Appearance: Mane shorter than African lion; tawny coat.
• Diet: Mainly deer and wild boar.
• Habitat: Dry deciduous forest and grassland.

2. Bustard

• Location: Gujarat, Rajasthan
• Population: about 150 people
• Description: Critically endangered due to habitat destruction and hunting.
• Appearance: Large, with long legs and a unique black crown.
• Diet: Insects, seeds and small mammals.
• Habitat: Grassland and scrubland.

3. Sangai Deer

• Location: Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur
• Population: about 260 people
• Description: Critically endangered; threatened by habitat degradation and hunting.
• Appearance: Unique floating prairie habitat; slender figure.
• Diet: Grasses and aquatic plants.
• Habitat: Floating wetlands.

4. Lion-tailed Macaque

• Location: Western Ghats, Kerala, Karnataka
• Population: less than 2,500
• Description: Endangered by deforestation; distinctive mane around face.
• Diet: Fruits, seeds and insects.
• Habitat: Tropical rainforest.

5. Nilgiri Taal

• Location: Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
• Population: Approximately 2,500-3,000 people
• Description: Endangered; threatened by habitat loss and poaching.
• Appearance: Short and fat, with curved horns; brown-gray coat.
• Diet: Grasses and shrubs.
• Habitat: Mountainous areas.

6. Kashmir Bucks (Korean)

• Location: Dachigan National Park, Jammu and Kashmir
• Population: about 150 people
• Description: Critically endangered; threatened by habitat fragmentation.
• Appearance: Large antlers; reddish-brown coat.
• Diet: Grass, leaves and shrubs.
• Habitat: Forested areas.

7. Malabar civet

• Location: Western Ghats, Kerala
• Population: Unknown; probably extinct in the wild
• Description: Rare mammal; threatened by habitat destruction.
• Appearance: Cat-like body, long tail; dark fur with spots.
• Diet: Fruit, small mammals, and birds.
• Habitat: Rainforest.

8. Pygmy Pig

• Location: Manas National Park, Assam
• Population: less than 250 people
• Description: Critically endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
• Appearance: Smallest wild boar; short legs and stocky body.
• Diet: Feeds on roots, tubers and insects.
• Habitat: Tall grasslands.

9. Nilgiri Bluebird

• Location: Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu
• Population: Unknown; Critically Endangered
• Description: Endangered due to habitat loss due to deforestation.
• Appearance: Small in size with bright blue feathers.
• Diet: Insects and small invertebrates.
• Habitat: Mountain forests.

10. Ganges River Dolphin

• Location: Ganges River Basin across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal
• Population: estimated 1,800
• Description: National aquatic animal of India; endangered due to pollution and damming of rivers.
• Appearance: Nearly blind; grayish-pink, with a round nose.
• Diet: Fish and crustaceans.
• Habitat: Freshwater rivers.

Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Optical Illusion