White-bellied heron

The white-bellied heron (Ardea insignis), also known as the imperial

heron or great white-bellied heron, is a species of largeheron found in the
foothills of the eastern Himalayas in India,
northeastern Bangladesh, Burma and Bhutan.[2] Additionally, there are records
from Nepal. It is mostly dark grey with a white throat and underparts. This
heron is mostly solitary and is found on undisturbed riverside or wetland
habitats. The global population has declined and the species is threatened by
disturbance and habitat degradation. The species is currently listed as Critically
Endangered by the IUCN.

Great Indian bustard

The great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) or Indian bustard is
a bustard found in India and the adjoining regions of Pakistan. A large bird with
a horizontal body and long bare legs giving it an ostrich like appearance, this
bird is among the heaviest of the flying birds. Once common on the dry plains
of the Indian subcontinent, as few as 250 individuals were estimated in 2011 to
survive and the species is critically endangered by hunting and loss of its
habitat, which consists of large expanses of dry grassland and scrub. These birds
are often found associated in the same habitat as blackbuck.
Knifetooth sawfish
The knifetooth sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata), also known as the pointed
sawfish or narrow sawfish, is a species of sawfish in thefamily Pristidae, part
of the Batoidea, a superorder of cartilaginous fish that includes
the rays and skates. The sawfishes are characterised by the long, narrow,
flattened rostrum or extension on their snout. This is lined with sharp transverse
teeth, arranged in a way that resembles the teeth of a saw. It is found in the

shallow coastal waters and estuaries of the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from
the Red Seaand the Persian Gulf to southern Japan, Papua New Guinea and
northern Australia. It is the only member of the genus Anoxypristis, but was
previously included in the genus Pristis. Compared to that
genus, Anoxypristis has a narrower rostral saw with numerous teeth on the distal
part and no teeth on the basal quarter. This endangered species reaches a length
of up to 4.7 metres (15 ft).

Pondicherry shark
The Pondicherry shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon) is an extremely rare,
possibly extinct, species of requiem shark, in the familyCarcharhinidae. A small
and stocky gray shark, it grows not much longer than 1 m (3.3 ft), and it has a
fairly long, pointed snout. This species can be identified by the shape of its
upper teeth, which are strongly serrated near the base and smooth-edged near
the tip, and by its first dorsal fin, which is large with a long free rear tip.
Furthermore, this shark has prominent black tips on its pectoral fins, second
dorsal fin, and caudal fin lower lobe.
Not seen since 1979, the Pondicherry shark was once found in IndoPacific coastal waters from the Gulf of Oman to New Guinea, and may have
entered fresh water. Fewer than 20 specimens are available for study, and most
aspects of its natural history are unknown. It probably feeds on bony
fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans, and gives birth to live young with
the embryos forming a placentalconnection to their mother. The International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Pondicherry shark

as Critically Endangered. If it still survives, it would be threatened by intense

and escalating fishing pressure throughout its range.

Pseudophilautus amboli
The Amboli bush frog (Pseudophilautus amboli) is a rare shrub
frog species endemic to the Western Ghats (India). It is found in Amboli
(the type locality) and Amba in Maharashtra and in Castle Rock, Londa, Jog
Falls-Mavingundi, and Kudremukh-Malleshwaramin Karnataka.[1][2]

Description[edit]
The Amboli bush frog is a small frog, though it is medium-sized to large among
its relatives. The snoutvent length of this species is 34 mm (1.3 in) in males
and to 37.5 mm (1.48 in) in females.[3][4] Males have a large and
transparent vocal sack when calling. The body is rather robust. Discs of
fingertips are much enlarged. Tympanum is dark brown. dorsum is uniform
blackish brown. Throat lemon yellowish with minute black spots.[3]
Habitat[edit]
In Amboli it was found in extremely disturbed areas close to evergreen forest
patches, although it is not known whether or not it occurs in primary evergreen
forest. It breeds by direct developmen
Ingerana charlesdarwini
Charles Darwin's frog, Ingerana charlesdarwini, is a species of frog in
the Ranidae family. It is endemic to the Andaman Islands,India.[2]

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is

threatened by habitat loss.[1]
Darwin's frog was named after Charles Darwin, who discovered it on his world
voyage.
This frog lives in the cool forest streams of South America, mostly in Argentina
and Chile.
What makes this frog interesting? The way it takes care of its tadpoles! The
female lays the eggs, about 30 of them, and then the male guards them for about
2 weeks. The male picks up all the survivors and carries around the developing
young in his vocal pouch. Thats rightin his throat! The tadpoles finish
developing in the chin skin. When they are tiny froglets they hop out and swim
away!
Himalayan wolf
The Himalayan wolf (provisional name: "Canis himalayensis") has been
suggested by several Indian biologists for recognition as acritically
endangered canid species, distinct from Canis lupus. Results of mitochondrial
DNA analysis suggests that the Himalayan wolf is phylogenetically distinct
from the Tibetan wolf Canis lupus chanco.[1] In April 2009, the Latin
binom Canis himalayensis has been proposed as nomenclatural and taxonomic
change by the Nomenclature Specialist on the CITES Animals Committee.[2]
However, the IUCN Wolf Specialist Group has not taken a position regarding
this issue. The editors of the third edition and current ofMammal Species of the
World consider the small population to be Tibetan wolves, a subspecies of
the gray wolf, despite that the Himalayan population are much older than
Tibetan wolves.[3]

Nicobar shrew
The Nicobar Shrew or Nicobar White-tailed Shrew (Crocidura nicobarica) is
a critically endangered species of mammal in theSoricidae family. It
is endemic to the Great Nicobar Island of India.
Main Characteristics
Nicobar Tree Shrews have a slender build and a long tail. They have well
developed senses of hearing, smell and vision.
Habitat
Nicobar Tree Shrews are only found on the Nicobar Islands, India.
Diet
Nicobar Tree Shrews are omnivores and they feed on a variety of insects,
small vertebrates, fruit and seeds.
Breeding
After a gestation period of approximately 50 days, a litter of 3 - 4 young are
born. At birth the young are blind and hairless, but they are able to leave the
nest when they are a month old.
Tree Shrews reach sexual maturity at around 4 months old and they generally
breed throughout the year with no defined breeding season.

Subspecies
Subspecies of the Nicobar Tree Shrew include:
Tupaia nicobarica nicobarica
Tupaia nicobarica surda
Interesting Facts
Tree Shrews have the highest brain to body mass ratio of any animal, even
higher than humans.
Tupaia comes from the Malay word "tupai" which means squirrel.
Poecilotheria metallica
Poecilotheria metallica is a species of tarantula. It reflects
brilliant metallic blue color. Like others in its genus it exhibits an intricate
fractal-like pattern on the abdomen. The species' natural habitat is deciduous
forest in Andhra Pradesh, in central southern India. P. metallica was first
discovered in the town of Gooty, a fact reflected in some of its common
names: Gooty sapphire ornamental tree spider, Gooty sapphire, and Gooty
tarantula. Other common names are metallic tarantula, peacock parachute
spider,peacock tarantula, or salepurgu.

Rameshwaram Ornamental Spider

he Rameshwaram ornamental spider or Rameshwaram parachute spider is a tree

dwelling species endemic to Tamil Nadus Ramanthapuram district, in southern

India. Named after the Rameshwaram islands, where it was discovered in 2004,
in the Hanumavilasum temple by Andrews Smith, today this species is fighting
for survival. In 2008, it was listed as critically endangered in the IUCN
Redlist*.
This spider has light and dark brown stripes across its body and legs,
characteristic of all spiders in the genus Poecilotheria, which give it excellent
camouflage on trees. They can be distinguished from others in this genus by a
yellow colouration on the underside of the front legs. Males grow up to 4.3 cm
in length; whereas the females grow to 6.7 cm. Males live to one breeding
season after maturity and barely make it to another, whereas females have been
observed nesting in tree holes for over 3 years. They rarely catch insects, their
main prey, with the help of webs. Instead, they attack them from their place of
hiding and inject paralysing venom.
This species faces extinction mainly due to loss of its natural habitat to
developmental activities. Their habitat is restricted to a few tamarind, casuarina
and mixed dry deciduous tree and palm plantations on the Rameshwaram island,
covering a small area of 100 sq km, though actual occupancy of the populations
is only 6 sq km. Only 8 subpopulations, each varying from 4 to 78 individuals,
are known to exist in 13 heavily fragmented locations. In 2006, a large
population of these spiders was wiped away as two plantations supporting more
than 70 adults were razed to accommodate the areas increasing tourists.
1.Polygala irregularisGujarat(rare)commonly known as Milkwort is an annual
or perennial herb.Blooms during July and August.The plants are found at an
altitude of 1000 meters.The flowers are found in blue ,near white ,pink and
white in color.The plants are destroyed due to human habitation and land for
agriculture.

2.Lotus corniculatus Gujarat(rare)this plant belongs to pea family .The plant

bear pretty little yellow flowers grow in a circle, at the end of a stem.They are
very bright and easily spotted along the roadside.It is used in agriculture as a
forage plant,grown for pasture, hay and silage. Plants are perenial, herbaceous
similar to some clover.They are also called as birds foot refers to the
appearance of the seed pods on their stalk.