UPSC CSE Prelims
Endemic and Endangered Species Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — II and III

Simple Explanation:

Statement I — Incorrect. It is NOT a crustacean — it's a spider (arachnid), specifically a tarantula. Crustaceans (like crabs/shrimp) are a completely different animal group.

Statement II — Correct. Its habitat is restricted to certain forest areas in India, specifically the Eastern Ghats.

Statement III — Correct. It is arboreal — meaning it lives in trees and tree crevices/hollows, not on the ground.

📝 Short Notes: Peacock Tarantula / Gooty Tarantula

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — None

None of the given country-animal pairs are correctly matched. Each animal mentioned is native to a completely different geographical region than the country paired with it.

❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Indri is a lemur species endemic only to Madagascar, not Brazil.
❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Elk (Cervus canadensis) are found in North America and parts of Asia, not in Indonesia.
❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Bonobo (Pan paniscus) is a great ape found exclusively in the Democratic Republic of Congo, not Madagascar.

📝 Short Notes: Endemic Species and Their Natural Habitats

• Endemic species: Species found exclusively in one geographic location and nowhere else naturally in the world
• Madagascar biodiversity: Island isolation for ~88 million years has led to extraordinary endemic biodiversity, especially lemurs, chameleons, and unique flora
• Conservation importance: Understanding natural habitats is crucial for wildlife conservation and preventing extinction of endemic species

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Only one

Among the three trees mentioned, only Red Sanders is native to India, specifically endemic to the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Both Cashew and Papaya are exotic species that were introduced to India from the Americas by European traders during the colonial period.

✅ Red Sanders – Native to India: Endemic to the Eastern Ghats, particularly Andhra Pradesh, known for its valuable reddish wood.
❌ Cashew – Not native: Originally from Brazil, introduced to India by Portuguese traders in the 16th century.
❌ Papaya – Not native: Originated in southern Mexico and Central America, brought to India during colonial times.

📝 Short Notes: Native vs. Exotic Trees of India

• Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus): Endemic to India, found exclusively in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka. It is listed in CITES Appendix II due to illegal logging and trade. The tree produces valuable red heartwood used in furniture, musical instruments, and traditional medicine.
• Cashew (Anacardium occidentale): Native to Brazil, introduced to Goa by Portuguese colonizers in the 16th century. India is now the world's largest producer and exporter of cashew nuts, with major cultivation in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.
• Papaya (Carica papaya): Originated in tropical Americas (southern Mexico and Central America). Brought to India by Portuguese and Spanish traders. India is now one of the largest producers of papaya globally, cultivated throughout tropical and subtropical regions.
• Other Native Indian Trees: Neem (Azadirachta indica), Banyan (Ficus benghalensis), Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Sal (Shorea robusta), Teak (Tectona grandis), and Sandalwood (Santalum album).
• Other Exotic Trees in India: Eucalyptus (Australia), Pine (temperate regions), Rubber (Brazil), Coffee (Ethiopia), and Tea (China).
• Conservation Concern: Red Sanders is classified as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List due to overexploitation for its valuable timber, leading to strict protection measures and anti-smuggling operations.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Golden Mahseer

The Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora) is a species of large freshwater fish, not a bird. Often referred to as the 'Tiger of the Water', it is native to the Himalayan region and inhabits the rapid streams and rivers of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra basins. It is recognized by its large golden scales and is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

✅ Option 2 – Indian Nightjar: A nocturnal bird species found across the Indian subcontinent, belonging to the Caprimulgidae family.
✅ Option 3 – Spoonbill: A wading bird characterized by its distinctive spoon-shaped bill, found in wetlands and marshes.
✅ Option 4 – White Ibis: A wading bird with white plumage, commonly found in wetlands and coastal regions.

📝 Short Notes: Indian Wildlife Species

• Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora): Large freshwater fish found in Himalayan rivers; known as 'Tiger of the Water'; IUCN status: Endangered; threatened by overfishing, habitat degradation, and dam construction.
• Indian Nightjar: Nocturnal insectivorous bird; cryptic plumage provides excellent camouflage; found in dry scrublands and open forests.
• Spoonbill: Includes species like Eurasian Spoonbill; feeds by sweeping its spatulate bill through water; inhabits wetlands and shallow water bodies.
• White Ibis: Includes Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus); wading bird found in wetlands; feeds on aquatic invertebrates and small fish.
• Conservation Significance: All these species are indicators of ecosystem health; wetland birds indicate water quality while mahseer indicates river health.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 only

Among the three statements, only the statement about the Asiatic lion is correct as it is naturally found exclusively in India. The double-humped camel and one-horned rhinoceros have natural ranges extending beyond India's borders.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is naturally found only in India, with its entire wild population restricted to Gir National Park and surrounding areas in Gujarat, listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The double-humped camel (Bactrian camel) is naturally found across Central Asia, particularly in Mongolia and China; while a population exists in Ladakh's Nubra Valley, its natural range is not exclusive to India.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The one-horned rhinoceros (Indian rhinoceros) is naturally found in both India (Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh) and Nepal, making it a shared natural heritage of both countries.

📝 Short Notes: Endemic and Native Species of India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.

Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, provides the highest level of legal protection to endangered species in India. Any species listed under Schedule I, whether a tiger, elephant, or tortoise, receives identical legal safeguards including absolute protection from hunting, trade, and habitat destruction, with the most stringent penalties for violations.

❌ Option 2 – Incorrect: This describes the IUCN Red List category 'Extinct in the Wild', which is a biological conservation status, not a legal designation under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: Endemism (being restricted to a particular geographic region) is not a criterion for Schedule I listing; species are listed based on the degree of threat and need for protection, regardless of their geographic range.

❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: Since both statements B and C are incorrect, this option is also incorrect.

Note: The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, has rationalized the original six schedules into four schedules, but Schedule I continues to provide the highest level of protection.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Chambal River

The National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, located along the Chambal River spanning Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, is the best place to see gharials in their natural habitat. This tri-state protected area is one of the most important sanctuaries dedicated to the conservation of the critically endangered gharial, a fish-eating crocodilian species. The sanctuary provides ideal riverine conditions for gharial breeding and survival, making it the premier destination for observing these unique reptiles in the wild.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2 only

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Kharai camels possess the unique ability to swim up to three kilometers in seawater, enabling them to reach offshore mangrove islands in the Gulf of Kutch for grazing.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The name 'Kharai' derives from the Gujarati word for 'salty,' reflecting their primary diet of saline-tolerant plants and mangroves. This adaptation allows them to survive in the harsh coastal ecosystem of Gujarat.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Kharai camels are semi-domesticated animals herded by the Maldhari pastoral communities in the Kutch region. They are used for milk production, and their male calves are often sold for commercial purposes.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Western Ghats

The Great Indian Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is a large frugivorous bird native to the dense evergreen and moist deciduous forests of India. Its natural habitat in India is primarily concentrated in the Western Ghats, where it thrives in the tropical rainforests with abundant fruit-bearing trees. The bird is also found in the foothills of the Himalayas in the northeastern states, but among the given options, the Western Ghats is the correct answer. The species requires tall trees for nesting and roosting, making the sand deserts of northwest India, higher cold Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, and salt marshes of Gujarat unsuitable habitats. It is listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss and hunting pressure.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 only

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), also known as Red Sandalwood, is a tree species endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats mountain range of South India, primarily found in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Red Sanders is not found in tropical rainforest areas. It grows in dry deciduous forests and semi-arid regions of the Eastern Ghats, thriving in scrub forests with rocky terrain and low rainfall conditions, which are distinctly different from tropical rainforest ecosystems.

Detailed Explanation:

The Musa indandamanensis, a new banana species reaching 11 meters in height with distinctive orange fruit pulp, was discovered by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in the tropical rainforests of Little Andaman Island.

This species is unique for its green flowers, large fruit bunch axis (three times normal size), cylindrical flowers (instead of conical), and orange pulp—making the Andaman Islands the correct answer.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Dugong is a herbivorous marine mammal that exclusively feeds on seagrass meadows in shallow coastal waters.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Dugongs are not found along the entire coast of India; they are restricted to Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Dugong is accorded the highest protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, making hunting or harming them a serious offence.

Detailed Explanation:

The Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) was declared India's National Aquatic Animal on 18th May 2010 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

This blind dolphin, also called susu, is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List with fewer than 2000 individuals remaining, facing threats from pollution and habitat destruction in the Ganga river system.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Dams and barrages fragment river habitats, restrict migration, isolate dolphin populations, and reduce prey availability.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Crocodile population increase is not a documented cause of dolphin decline; both species coexist in healthy river ecosystems.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Accidental entanglement in fishing nets (gillnets) is a major cause of mortality, leading to drowning of dolphins.

✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Agricultural chemical runoff pollutes rivers, contaminating prey species and causing bioaccumulation of toxins in dolphins.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) – Listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on IUCN Red List; faces drastic population decline due to habitat loss, prey depletion, and fishing nets.

✅ Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) – Categorized as Vulnerable (VU) globally; found in Andaman & Nicobar Islands; protected under Schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

✅ Swamp deer/Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii) – Listed as Vulnerable (VU) on IUCN Red List; threatened by habitat fragmentation and grassland conversion.

All three species fall under IUCN 'Threatened' categories (CR/EN/VU) and are considered endangered in broader conservation context.