Q102. Which of the following options represent the animals as Endemic to India?
(A) Pygmy Hog
(B) Mountain Bongo
(C) Hirola
(D) Purple Frog
Answer: (A) and (D)
Option Analysis
Pygmy Hog (A):
The pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) is the world’s smallest wild pig and is endemic to India, primarily found in the tall grasslands of Assam’s Manas and Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuaries in the Himalayan foothills. Once widespread across parts of northern India, its range has contracted due to habitat loss, but it remains native exclusively to India today.
Mountain Bongo (B):
The mountain bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci), a critically endangered antelope subspecies, is native to the montane forests of Kenya, including Mount Kenya, Aberdares, and Mau Forest, with no natural populations in India.
Hirola (C):
The hirola (Beatragus hunteri), known as the world’s most endangered antelope, is endemic to the grasslands along the Kenya-Somalia border, particularly in Garissa County, Kenya, and not found in India.
Purple Frog (D):
The purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis), a unique amphibian with a bloated body and pointed snout, is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, spanning Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where it lives mostly underground.
India boasts a rich biodiversity hotspot, particularly in regions like the Western Ghats and Himalayan foothills, home to unique endemic animals found nowhere else. Endemic species like the pygmy hog and purple frog highlight India’s conservation priorities, making them key topics for competitive exams such as CSIR NET Life Sciences.
Key Endemic Species
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Pygmy Hog: This critically endangered suid thrives in Assam’s grasslands, building thatched nests and facing threats from habitat burning and encroachment.
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Purple Frog: A “living fossil” from the Western Ghats, it emerges briefly during monsoons to breed in loose, damp soils near streams.
Non-Endemic Counterparts
Mountain bongo inhabits Kenyan highlands, while hirola roams Kenya-Somali savannas—neither occurs naturally in India.
Conservation Insights
Protecting endemic animals of India involves habitat restoration and anti-poaching, vital for biodiversity and exam questions on biogeography.
