These animals and plants of India could have become ‘possibly extinct’ : IUCN

What is the news? 

In the latest edition of the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, a number of animals and plants have been listed as ‘possibly extinct’, including many species from India.

What are the findings of report? 

First, among animals, there is the coconut crab, the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world. There are also fish species such as bovany barb, native to the Cauvery River system. 

Second, fishes that declared possibly extinct include the Deolali minnow, the Deccan barb and the Nilgiri mystus. They are found in the Deccan. 

Third, birds include the Pink-headed duck, the Siberian crane, that once famously drew crowds to Keoladeo National Park as well as the Buffy fish-owl or Malay owl. 

Fourth, the Tentacled butterfly ray, a type of ray and the Dwarf sawfish are two other animal species that are feared to be possibly extinct. The Millepora boschmai or fire coral is also possibly extinct. 

Fifth, there are also species that have been marked as ‘Extinct Post-1500’. They include Green peafowl, Cheetah, Hairy-nosed Otter, Banteng etc.  

Sixth, plants that are possibly extinct include: Corypha taliera, a species of palm, Eriocaulon minutum, a species of pipewort, Ilex gardneriana, that is found in the Nilgiris, Vachellia bolei, a coastal stenoendemic legume of southern India, .phorbia mayurnathanii that is endemic to the Palghat Gap. 

Seventh, species whose statuses were changed included the Albacore Tuna that was moved from near threatened to least concern. The Yellowfin Tuna was moved from near threatened to least concern. The Yeracud Day Gecko was moved from least concern to endangered. 

Eighth, the Satara Gecko was moved from vulnerable to critically endangered while the Yellow Monitor was moved from least concern to endangered. 

Source: This post is based on the article “These animals and plants of India could have become ‘possibly extinct’: IUCN” published in the Down to Earth on 22nd Sep 2021.