Mammals of Western Ghats: A simplistic overview

Abstract

Being one of the 25 hotspots of the world, Western Ghats is a storehouse of endemic flora and fauna, whose endemicity increases with decreasing body size. Mammals are well represented in this chain of mountains with 137 species of which 16 are found no other place on earth. This paper presents a thorough checklist of mammals of Western Ghats along with the status (according to the 1994 IUCN Red List Criteria) of the taxa in Western Ghats (if endemic) or in India/overall distribution (if found outside of Western Ghats). The paper summarises the impacts of human activities within the hotspot as indicated by the level of threat faced by the endemic mammalian taxa. Thirty-two mammals threatened globally or in India occur in Western Ghats, while there is not enough information to assess the status of 22 mammals. Of the 16 endemics, 13 are threatened in Western Ghats.

Full text

November 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(11): 629-639
REVIEW ZOOS' PRINT JOURNAL 16(11): 629-639
MAMMALS OF WESTERN GHATS: A SIMPLISTIC OVERVIEW
P.O. Nameer 1, Sanjay Molur 2 and Sally Walker 3
1 Department of Wildlife Sciences, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, KAU (PO), Thrissur, Kerala 680656, India.
Email: nameer@vsnl.com
2, 3 Zoo Outreach Organisation, 29-1 I Cross (East), Bharathi Colony, PB 1683 Peelamedu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641004, India.
Emails: 2 herpinvert@vsnl.com; 3 zooreach@vsnl.com
Manuscript received 12 May 2000; Revised manuscript received 14 August 2001; Accepted for publication 1 October 2001
629
Abstract
Being one of the 25 hotspots of the world, Western Ghats
is a storehouse of endemic flora and fauna, whose
endemicity increases with decreasing body size.
Mammals are well represented in this chain of mountains
with 137 species of which 16 are found no other place on
earth. This paper presents a thorough checklist of
mammals of Western Ghats along with the status
(according to the 1994 IUCN Red List Criteria) of the taxa
in Western Ghats (if endemic) or in India/overall
distribution (if found outside of Western Ghats). The
paper summarises the impacts of human activities within
the hotspot as indicated by the level of threat faced by
the endemic mammalian taxa. Thirty-two mammals
threatened globally or in India occur in Western Ghats,
while there is not enough information to assess the status
of 22 mammals. Of the 16 endemics, 13 are threatened in
Western Ghats.
Keywords
Western Ghats, mammals, checklist, endemicity,
status, 1994 IUCN Red List Criteria, CAMP, threats
Introduction
The Western Ghats forms a practically unbroken relief dominating
the western coast of the Indian Peninsula for almost 1600km.
The Ghats extend from the mouth of the river Tapti 210N to the
tip of southern India (about 80N) the only discontinuity in the
chain being the Palghat Gap (Pascal, 1988). The Western Ghats
is spread over six Indian states, viz., Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa,
Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The average elevation is
900-1500m, with the highest peak having an altitude of 2969m.
The western slopes of Western Ghats receive very high rainfall
ranging from 2000-6000mm per year, but across the hill range,
the rain decreases and the eastern slopes and foothills are rain
shadow areas (Nair, 1991).
Systematic collections of mammals were made as early as second
half of the 19th century, but the first comprehensive checklist on
the mammals of at least one part of the region was the one by
Sathasivam (1996). He listed 158 species of mammals from Kerala
and Tamil Nadu. Later, Balakrishnan (1997) compiled a list of 101
species of mammals of Kerala. Both Sathasivam (1996) and
Balakrishnan (1997) included marine mammals in their checklists,
which is not the case in this checklist of Western Ghats mammals.
Karanth (1986) lists 53 species of terrestrial mammals from
Karnataka. Johnsingh (2001) gives a list of 77 species of mammals
from Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
In this paper a compilation of mammal species occuring in Western
Ghats is presented. The regional checklists of the various fauna,
it is hoped, would be useful for planning and prioritising further
studies on the taxa in question. The information on the
conservation status and overall threats would also further assist
in prioritising studies and conservation action.
Methodology
This checklist has been prepared from the Checklist of Indian
Mammals (Nameer, 2000), which in turn is compiled from Fauna
of British India series (Blanford, 1888, 1891; Pocock 1939, 1941;
Ellerman, 1961) and Prater (1971). However, the taxonomy and
nomenclature is in accordance with Wilson and Reeder (1993).
The status of Indian mammals including Western Ghats was
assessed in 1997 in a Conservation Assessment and
Management Plan workshop. The CAMP process was
developed by the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group of
the Species Survival Commission, IUCN (Seal, 2000). The
workshop strategy was to assess the status of all Indian mammal
taxa according to the 1994 IUCN Red List Criteria. The mammal
workshop was one of the six workshops of a subproject on
Endangered Species within a bigger Biodiversity Conservation
Prioritisation Project initiated by WWF International. At the
workshop conducted from 25-29 August 1997, 378 of the 400+

November 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(11): 629-639
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et al.
Maharashtra
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
River Tapti
Palghat Gap
Mumbai
Mangalore
Thiruvananthapuram
Goa
140
200
720
Figure 1. Rough extent of the Western Ghats range.
River Krishna
River Tungabhadra
Arabian Sea

November 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(11): 629-639
A. Order Insectivora
I. Family Erinaceidae (Hedgehogs)
1. Indian (Pale) Hedgehog Hemiechinus micropus (Blyth, 1846) LRlc 7-- National
2. Madras Hedgehog Hemiechinus nudiventris (Horsfield, 1851) VU 6D2 Global
II. Family Soricidae (Shrews)
3. Horsfield’s Shrew Crocidura horsfieldi (Tomes, 1856) DD 7-- National
4. Kelaart’s Long-clawed Shrew Feroculus feroculus (Kelaart, 1850) VU 7B1+2c; D2 National
5. Day’s Shrew Suncus dayi (Dobson, 1888) VU 6B1+2c Global
6. Pygmy (White-toothed) Shrew Suncus etruscus (Savi, 1822) LRlc 7-- National
7. Hill (Mountain) Shrew Suncus montanus (Kelaart, 1850) VU 6B1+2c Global
8. House (Grey Musk) Shrew, Musk Rat Suncus murinus (Linnaeus, 1766) LRlc 7-- National
9. Anderson’s (Yellow-throated) Shrew Suncus stoliczkanus (Anderson, 1877) LRlc 7-- National
B. Order Scandentia
III. Family Tupaiidae (Tree Shrews)
10. South Indian (Madras) Tree Shrew Anathana ellioti (Waterhouse, 1850) LRnt 6-- Global
C. Order Chiroptera
IV. Family Pteropodidae (Fruit Bats)
11. Lesser dog-faced Fruit Bat Cynopterus brachyotis (Müller, 1838) LRlc 7-- National
12. Short-nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl, 1797) LRlc 7-- National
13. Dawn (Cave Fruit) Bat Eonycteris spelaea (Dobson, 1871) VU 7D2 National
14. Salim Ali’s Fruit Bat Latidens salimalii Thonglongya, 1972 EN 7B1+2a; C2a Global
15. Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich, 1782) LRnt 7-- National
16. Fulvous (Rousette) Fruit Bat Rousettus leschenaulti (Desmarest, 1820) LRlc 7-- National
V. Family Rhinopomatidae (Mouse-tailed Bats)
17. Lesser Mouse-tailed (Lesser rat-tailed) Bat Rhinopoma hardwickii Gray, 1831 LRnt 7-- National
18. Greater Mouse-tailed Bat Rhinopoma microphyllum (Brünnich, 1782) LRnt 7-- National
19. Small Mouse-tailed Bat Rhinopoma muscatellum Thomas, 1903 LRnt 7-- National
VI. Family Emballonuridae (Sheath-tailed Bats)
20. Pouch-bearing Bat Saccolaimus saccolaimus (Temminck, 1838) DD 7-- National
21. Long-armed Sheath-tailed Bat Taphozous longimanus Hardwicke, 1825 LRlc 7-- National
22. Bearded Sheath-tailed Bat Taphozous melanopogon Temminck, 1841 LRnt 7-- National
23. Naked-rumped Tomb Bat Taphozous nudiventris Cretzschmar, 1830 LRnt 7-- National
24. Theobald's Tomb Bat Taphozous theobaldi Dobson, 1872 DD 7-- National
VII. Family Megadermatidae (False-vampire Bats)
25. Greater False-vampire Bat Megaderma lyra E. Geoffroy, 1810 LRlc 7-- National
26. Lesser False-vampire Bat Megaderma spasma (Linnaeus, 1758) DD 7-- National
VIII. Family Rhinolophidae (Horseshoe Bats)
27. Dusky Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros ater Templeton, 1848 LRnt 7-- National
28. Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros fulvus Gray, 1838 LRnt 7-- National
29. Cantor’s (Fawn) Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros galeritus Cantor, 1846 D D 7-- National
30. Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros hypophyllus Kock & Bhat, 1994 VU 8B1+2c; D2 Global
31. Kelaart’s Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros lankadiva Kelaart, 1850 DD 7-- National
32. Andersen’s Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros pomona K. Andersen, 1918 DD 7-- National
33. Bellary Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros schistaceus K. Andersen, 1918 DD 6-- Global
34. Schneider’s Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros speoris (Schneider, 1800) LRnt 7-- National
35. Lesser Woolly Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus beddomei Anderson, 1905 LRnt 8-- Global
36. Blyth’s (Little Indian) Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus lepidus Blyth, 1844 LRnt 7-- National
37. Woolly (Great Eastern) Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus luctus Temminck, 1835 DD 7-- National
Table 1. Checklist of mammals of Western Ghats with status as per the 1994 IUCN Red List Criteria.
Common name 1Scientific name 2Status 3Criteria 4Assessment 5
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November 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(11): 629-639
38. Least Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus pusillus Temminck, 1834 LRnt 7-- National
39. Rufous Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus rouxii Temminck, 1835 LRnt 7-- National
IX. Family Vespertilionidae (Evening Bats)
40. Hairy-winged Bat Harpiocephalus harpia Gray, 1842 DD 7-- National
41. Tickell’s Bat Hesperoptenus tickelli (Blyth, 1851) D D 7-- National
42. Hardwicke’s Forest Bat Kerivoula hardwickii (Horsfield, 1824) D D 7-- National
43. Painted Bat Kerivoula picta (Pallas, 1767) LRnt 7-- National
44. Nicobar Long-fingered Bat Miniopterus pusillus Dobson, 1876 DD 7-- National
45. Schreibers’ Long-fingered Bat Miniopterus schreibersi (Kuhl, 1817) LRnt 8-- National
46. Round-eared Tube-nosed Bat Murina cyclotis Dobson, 1872 DD 7-- National
47. Burmese Whiskered Bat Myotis montivagus (Dobson, 1874) VU 8A2c; D2 Global
48. Horsfield’s Mouse-eared Bat Myotis horsfieldii (Temminck, 1840) LRnt 7-- National
49. Chocolate Bat Pipistrellus affinis (Dobson, 1871) DD 7-- National
50. Kelaart’s Pipistrelle Pipistrellus ceylonicus (Kelaart, 1852) LRlc 7-- National
51. Indian Pipistrelle Pipistrellus coromandra (Gray, 1838) LRnt 7-- National
52. Dormer’s Bat Pipistrellus dormeri (Dobson, 1875) LRnt 7-- National
53. Javan Pipistrelle Pipistrellus javanicus (Gray, 1838) NE --
54. Least Pipistrelle Pipistrellus tenuis (Temminck, 1840) LRlc 7-- National
55. Common Yellow Bat Scotophilus heathii (Horsfield, 1831) LRlc 7-- National
56. Asiatic Lesser Yellow House Bat Scotophilus kuhlii Leach, 1821 LRnt 7-- National
57. Bamboo Bat Tylonycteris pachypus (Temminck, 1840) DD 7-- National
X. Family Molossidae (Free-tailed Bats)
58. Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bat Chaerephon plicata (Buchanan, 1800) DD 7-- National
59. Wroughton’s Free-tailed Bat Otomops wroughtoni Thomas, 1913 CR 6B1+2c Global
60. Egyptian Free-tailed Bat Tadarida aegyptiaca (E. Geoffroy, 1818) LRnt 7-- National
D. Order Primates
XI. Family Loridae (Loris)
61. Slender Loris Loris tardigradus (Linnaeus, 1758) DD 6-- National
XII. Family Cercopithecidae (Monkeys)
62. Bonnet Macaque Macaca radiata (E.Geoffroy, 1812) LRlc 7-- Global
63. Lion-tailed Macaque Macaca silenus (Linnaeus, 1758) EN 6B1+2c; C2a Global
64. Common (Hanuman) Langur Semnopithecus entellus (Dufresne, 1797) LRnt 8-- Global
65. Nilgiri Langur, Hooded Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus johnii (J. Fischer, 1829) V U 6A1d; B1+2c; C2a Global
E. Order Carnivora
XIII. Family Canidae (Dogs)
66. Golden Jackal Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758 LRlc 7-- National
67. Wolf Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758 LRnt 7-- National
68. Indian Wild Dog Cuon alpinus (Pallas, 1811) VU 6C2a Global
69. Bengal (Indian) Fox Vulpes bengalensis (Shaw, 1800) DD 8-- Global
XIV. Family Ursidae (Bears)
70. Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus (Shaw, 1791) VU 6A2cd; C1+2a Global
XV. Family Mustelidae
71. Oriental Small-clawed (Clawless) Otter Amblonyx cinereus Illiger, 1815 LRnt 8-- Global
72. Common (Eurasian) Otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) VU 8A2cde Global
73. Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1826) VU 8A1acd Global
74. Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsi Horsfield, 1851 VU 6B1+2bc Global
75. Ratel, Honey Badger Mellivora capensis (Schreber, 1776) LRnt 7-- National
XVI. Family Viverridae (Civets)
76. Common Palm Civet, Toddy Cat Paradoxurus hermaphroditus (Pallas, 1777) LRlc 7-- National
Common name 1Scientific name 2Status 3Criteria 4Assessment 5
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77. Brown (Jerdon’s) Palm Civet, Coffee Civet Paradoxurus jerdoni Blanford, 1885 VU 6B1+2bc Global
78. Malabar Civet Viverra civettina Blyth, 1862 CR 6C2a Global
79. Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica (Desmarest, 1804) LRnt 7-- National
XVII. Family Herpestidae (Mongoose)
80. Brown Mongoose Herpestes brachyurus Gray, 1837 VU 6B1+2abc Global
81. Grey (Common) Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii (E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1818) LRlc 7-- National
82. Ruddy Mongoose Herpestes smithii Gray, 1837 LRlc 7-- National
83. Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis Bennett, 1835 LRnt 7-- National
XVIII. Family Hyaenidae (Hyaena)
84. Striped Hyaena Hyaena hyaena (Linnaeus, 1758) LRnt 6-- Global
XIX. Family Felidae (Cats)
85. Jungle Cat Felis chaus Schreber, 1777 LRnt 7-- National
86. Leopard Panthera pardus (Linnaeus, 1758) VU 7C2a National
87. Tiger Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) E N 6A2cd Global
88. Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis (Kerr, 1792) LRnt 7-- National
89. Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1831) DD 8-- Global
90. Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus (Bennett, 1833) LRnt 8-- Global
F. Order Proboscidea
XXVI. Family Elephantidae (Elephants)
91. Asian Elephant Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 EN 8A1cd Global
G. Order Artiodactyla
XXVIII. Family Suidae (Pigs)
92. Wild Boar Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 LRlc 7-- National
XXIX. Family Tragulidae (Mouse Deer)
93. Indian Chevrotain, Mouse Deer Moschiola meminna (Erxleben, 1777) LRnt 7-- National
XXX. Family Cervidae (Deer)
94. Spotted Deer Axis axis (Erxleben, 1777) LRlc 7-- National
95. Sambar Cervus unicolor Kerr, 1792 LRlc 7-- National
96. Indian Muntjac, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak (Zimmermann, 1780) LRlc 7-- National
XXXI. Family Bovidae (Wild Cattle)
97. Blackbuck, Indian Antelope Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus, 1758) VU 8A1c Global
98. Gaur Bos gaurus Smith, 1827 VU 6A1cd+2cd; C1+2a Global
99. Bluebull Boselaphus tragocamelus (Pallas, 1766) LRlc 7-- Global
100. Indian Gazelle Gazella bennettii (Sykes, 1831) LRlc 7-- Global
101. Nilgiri Tahr Hemitragus hylocrius (Ogilby, 1838) EN 6B1+2acd; C2a Global
102. Four-horned Antelope Tetracerus quadricornis (de Blainville, 1816). VU 8C2a Global
H. Order Pholidota
XXXII. Family Manidae (Pangolins)
103. Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata Gray, 1827 LRnt 6-- Global
I. Order Rodentia
XXXIII. Family Sciuridae (Squirrels)
104. Layard’s Striped Squirrel Funambulus layardi (Blyth, 1849) DD 7-- National
105. Three-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus palmarum (Linnaeus, 1766) LRlc 7-- National
106. Five-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus pennantii Wroughton, 1905 LRlc 7-- National
107. Dusky Striped Squirrel Funambulus sublineatus (Waterhouse, 1838) DD 7-- National
108. Jungle Striped Squirrel Funambulus tristriatus (Waterhouse, 1837) LRnt 6-- Global
109. Travancore Flying Squirrel Petinomys fuscocapillus (Jerdon, 1847) VU 6B1+2bc Global
Common name 1Scientific name 2Status 3Criteria 4Assessment 5
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November 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(11): 629-639
110. Elliot’s Giant (Large) Flying Squirrel Petaurista philippensis (Elliot, 1839) LRnt 7-- National
111. Indian (Malabar) Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica (Erxleben, 1777) VU 6B1+2c Global
112. Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura (Pennant, 1769) VU 8A1c Global
XXXIV. Family Muridae (Mice and Rats)
113. Indian Mole-rat Bandicota bengalensis (Gray & Hardwicke, 1833) LRlc 7-- National
114. Large (Greater) Bandicoot-rat Bandicota indica (Bechstein, 1800) LRnt 7-- National
115. White-tailed Wood (Blanford’s) Rat Cremnomys blanfordi (Thomas, 1881) LRnt 7-- National
116. Cutch Rat Cremnomys cutchicus Wroughton, 1912 LRlc 7-- Global
117. Indian Bush Rat Golunda ellioti Gray, 1837 LRlc 7-- National
118. Kondana Rat Millardia kondana Mishra & Dhanda, 1975 VU 7D2 Global
119. Soft-furred Field Rat (Metad) Millardia meltada (Gray, 1837) LRlc 7-- National
120. Little Indian Field Mouse Mus booduga (Gray, 1837) LRlc 7-- National
121. Cook’s Mouse Mus cookii Ryley, 1914 LRnt 7-- National
122. Bonhote’s Mouse Mus famulus Bonhote, 1898 E N 6B1+2c Global
123. House Mouse Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 LRlc 7-- National
124. Fawn-coloured Mouse Mus phillipsi Wroughton, 1912 LRlc 7-- National
125. Spiny Field (Indian Brown Spiny) Mouse Mus platythrix Bennett, 1832 LRlc 7-- National
126. Elliot’s Brown Spiny Mouse Mus saxicola Elliot, 1839 LRlc 7-- National
127. Pygmy (Earth-coloured) Field Mouse Mus terricolor Blyth, 1851 DD 7-- National
128. Spiny Dormouse Platacanthomys lasiurus Blyth, 1859 LRlc 7-- Global
129. Brown (Norway) Rat Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769) LRlc 7-- National
130. Ranjini’s Rat Rattus ranjiniae Agarwal & Ghosal, 1969 VU 6D2 Global
131. House (Roof, Black) Rat Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758) LRlc 7-- National
132. Indian Gerbile (Antelope Rat) Tatera indica (Hardwicke, 1807) LRlc 7-- National
133. Indian long-tailed Tree Mouse Vandeleuria oleracea (Bennett, 1832) LRlc 7-- National
XXXV. Family Hystricidae (Porcupines)
134. Indian (Crested) Porcupine Hystrix indica Kerr, 1792 LRlc 7-- National
J. Order Lagomorpha
XXXVI. Family Leporidae (Hares)
135. Indian Hare, Black-naped Hare Lepus nigricollis F. Cuvier, 1823 LRlc 7-- National
1 After Nameer, 2000.
2 After Wilson & Reeder, 1993, except when indicated otherwise for specific species.
3 IUCN Red List Categories as derived using the 1994 IUCN Red List Criteria.
4 The justification for according IUCN Red List Categories.
5 Scope of assessment for every species, such as "Global" if assessed for a species' entire distribution range, or "National" if assessed for a species' distribution in
India only.
6 Listed in Hilton-Taylor, 2000 and Molur et al., 1998.
7 Listed in Molur et al., 1998 only.
8 Listed in Hilton-Taylor, 2000 only.
CR - Critically Endangered; EN - Enndangered; VU - Vulnerable; LRnt - Lower Risk near threatened; LRlc - Lower Risk least concern; DD - Data Deficient
Common name 1Scientific name 2Status 3Criteria 4Assessment 5
mammal taxa were assessed.
The CAMP workshop is a participatory process involving all
stakeholders in assessing the status of a taxon in a systematic
and logical way, which includes determining individual threats,
declines, extent, area, distribution, etc. The CAMP also helps in
determining priorities for conservation of the species such as
research and management recommendations (Walker et al., 2001).
The information on conservation status of Indian mammals in
this paper is taken from the CAMP workshop for Indian mammals
(Molur et al., 1998). The status of endemic mammals of India
assessed during the CAMP workshop were incorporated in the
2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Hilton-Taylor, 2000).
The checklist of subspecies provided is from various authorities
as listed during the CAMP workshop (Molur et al., 1998).
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November 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(11): 629-639
I. Insectivora 9 (4) 31 (11) 77 (20) 428 (66)
1. Erinaceidae 2 (1) 03 (01) 12 (06) 21 (07)
2. Talpidae -- 02 (02) 10 (04) 42 (17)
3. Soricidae 7 (3) 27 (08) 55 (10) 312 (23)
II. Scandentia 1 (1) 03 (02) 16 (04) 19 (05)
4. Tupaidae 1 (1) 03 (02) 16 (4) 19 (05)
III. Chiroptera 50 (23) 114 (36) 307 (63) 925 (177)
5. Pteropodidae 6 (5) 13 (08) 74 (25) 166 (42)
6. Rhinopomatidae 3 (1) 03 (01) 03 (01) 03 (01)
7. Emballonuridae 5 (2) 06 (02) 11 (02) 47(13)
8. Megadermatidae 2 (1) 02 (01) 02 (01) 05 (04)
9. Rhinolophidae 13 (2) 28 (03) 42 (07) 130 (10)
10. Vespertilionidae 18 (9 ) 59 (18) 119 (23) 318 (35)
11. Molossidae 3 (3) 04 (03) 13 (04) 80 (12)
IV. Primates 5 (4) 15 (06) 61 (08) 233 (60)
12. Loridae 1 (1) 02 (02) 04 (02) 06 (04)
13. Cercopithecidae 4 (3) 12 (03) 39 (05) 81 (18)
14. Hylobatidae -- 01 (01) 11 (01) 11 (01)
V. Carnivora 25 (17) 62 (35) 83 (37) 271 (129)
15. Canidae 4 (3) 07 (03) 09 (04) 34 (14)
16. Ursidae 1 (1) 05 (04) 04 (03)* 09 (06)
17. Mustelidae 5 (5) 16 (08) 22 (11) 65 (25)
18. Viverridae 4 (3) 09 (07) 20 (11) 34 (20)
19. Herpestidae 4 (1) 07 (01) 08 (01) 37 (18)
20. Hyaenidae 1 (1) 01 (01) 01 (01) 04 (04)
21. Felidae 6 (3) 17 (11) 18 (06)* 36 (18)
VI. Cetaceae -- 30 (22) 32 (23) 78 (41)
22. Plantanistidae -- 01 (01) 01 (01) 05 (0
23. Delphinidae -- 15 (13) 16 (14) 32 (17)
24. Phocoenidae -- 01 (01) 01 (01) 06 (04)
25. Physeterida -- 03 (02) 03 (02) 03 (02)
26. Ziphidae -- 03 (02) 03 (02) 19 (06)
27. Balaenopteridae -- 06 (02) 06 (02) 06(02)
28. Balaenidae -- 01 (01) 01 (01) 03 (02)
VII. Sirenia -- 01 (01) 01 (01) 05 (03)
29. Dugongidae -- 01 (01) 01 (01) 05 (02)
VIII. Proboscidea 01 (01) 01 (01) 01 (01) 02 (02)
30. Elephantidae 01 (01) 01 (01) 01 (01) 02(02)
IX. Persiodactyla -- 07 (03) 07 (03)* 18 (06)
31. Rhinocerotidae -- 03 (02) 03 (02) 05 (04)
32. Equidae -- 04 (01) 03 (01)* 05 (01)
X. Artiodactyla 11 (11) 40 (21) 61 (23) 220 (81)
33. Suidae 01 (01) 03 (01) 07 (02) 16 (05)
34. Camelidae -- 01 (01) 01 (01) 06 (03)
35. Tragulidae 01 (01) 01 (01) 03 (02) 04 (03)
36. Moschidae 02 (01) 01 (01)* 04(01)
37. Cervidae 03 (03) 07 (03) 21 (06) 43 (16)
38. Bovidae 06 (06) 26 (14) 28 (11)* 137 (45)
XI. Pholidota 01 (01) 02 (01) 03 (01) 07 (01)
39. Manidae 01 (01) 02 (01) 03 (01) 07 (01)
XII. Rodentia 31 (14) 103 (44) 369 (115) 2015 (443)
40. Sciuridae 09 (04) 28 (12) 62 (28) 273 (50)
41. Muridae 21 (09) 70 (28) 253 (79) 1326 (281)
42. Dipodidae 01 (01) 04 (05) 51 (15)
43. Hystricidae 01 (01) 03 (02) 08 (03) 11 (03)
44. Cavlidae -- 01 (01) 01 (01) 14 (05)
XIII. Lagomorpha 02 (02) 12 (04) 11 (06) 80 (13)
45. Leporidae 02 (02) 05(03) 09 (05) 54 (11)
46. Ochotonidae -- 07 (01) 02 (01)* 26 (02)
135 (77) 422 (187) 1041 (322) 4629 (1135)
Table 2. Comparative account of the mammalian orders and families occurring naturally in the Western Ghats, India (Nameer, 2000), Indomalayan region (Corbet &
Hill, 1992) and the World (Wilson & Reeder, 1993). Numbers within parenthesis indicate the number of genera.
Order/ Family Western India Indo- World
Ghats Malayan Order/ Family Western India Indo- World
Ghats Malayan
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In this paper the global assessment of endemic mammals of
Western Ghats indicate their status in the biogeographic region.
The status of non-endemic mammals in the Western Ghats is
not determined for the region alone but is done at the national or
global level and is indicated in Table 1.
Results
The checklist of mammals of Western Ghats is given in Table 1.
The checklist includes mammals found only in the mountain
chain and the adjoining coastal belt; it does not include the
marine mammals off the western coast in the Arabian Sea as
indicated in the previous checklists by Sathasivam (1996) and
Balakrishnan (1997). The Western Ghats supports 135 species
of mammals (32% of Indian land mammals) in 77 genera (41%),
29 families (63%). Taxa of 10 of the 13 mammalian orders are
represented in Western Ghats. The 11 species of domestic
animals that have been given a complete species status following
Corbet and Hill (1992), viz. Canis familiaris, Felis catus, Equus
asinus, Equus caballus, Sus domesticus, Bos taurus, Bubalus
bubalis, Capra hircus, Ovis aries, Caria porcellus and
Oryctolagus cunniculus, found in Western Ghats are not
included in the checklist (Table 1) as they are not a natural
component of the wild mammals of the region. Homo sapiens is
also excluded from the list.
Chiroptera is the largest family with 50 species in seven families,
followed by Rodents (31 species in 3 families), Carnivora (25
species in 7 families), Artiodactyla (11 species in 4 families),
Insectivora (9 species in 2 families), Primates (5 species in 2
families), Lagomorpha (1 species in 1 family), and Scandentia,
Proboscidea, Pholidota and Lagomorpha with one species each
in one family. The Insectivora, Chiroptera and Rodentia,
constitute about 66.5 per cent of mammals of Western Ghats.
Table 2 gives a comparative account of the mammalian orders
and families occurring in Western Ghats, India (Nameer, 2000),
Indomalayan region (Corbet & Hill, 1992) and the World (Wilson
& Reeder, 1993).
Table 3 summarises the number of endemic species of Indian
mammals, in different geographical regions. Forty-one species
of mammals are known to be endemic to India out of which 16
species are endemic to Western Ghats, 10 species to Andaman
and Nicobar Islands and the rest 15 species to different regions
within the country.
A list of mammals endemic to Western Ghats is given in Table 4.
It may be noted that the three less known groups such as the
insectivores, bats and rodents constitutes 62.5 per cent of the
endemic mammals.
Discussion
From the data presented above it is proved beyond doubt that
very little is known about small mammals (orders Insectivora,
Chiroptera and Rodentia) although they form an extremely
important group when we think of biodiversity conservation.
The small mammals constitute about 66.5 per cent of mammals
of Western Ghats and 62.5 per cent of the endemic mammals of
the region. Moreover, 28 per cent of the threatened mammals
(Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable) are
insectivores, bats and rodents. These three groups of mammals
constitute 74 per cent of the Data Deficient (DD) category of
mammals of Western Ghats (Table 5).
A significant number of mammals that are in the near threatened
category occur in Western Ghats (Table 5). Twenty-eight per
cent of Western Ghats mammals are close to being threatened.
This combined with the number of threatened mammals, 52 per
cent of mammal species occuring in Western Ghats require
conservation attention. Not to forget, all Data Deficient species
must be accorded a high priority with respect to more studies,
surveys and monitoring.
Threats
Threats to mammals in Western Ghats are similar to threats
affecting other fauna and flora. Since few studies on small
mammal diversity, interaction with host plants, role in ecosystem
and behaviour have been conducted, it is important to emphasise
the impacts of perceptible threats. Loss of habitat and
fragmentation are two major contributors to population declines
and further restriction in distribution. Killing of mammals occurs
for various reasons such as animal-human conflict (e.g. Tiger,
Leopard, Elephant), for use as medicine (e.g. Giant Fruit Bat,
Nilgiri Langur), for use as food (e.g. Giant Fruit Bat, Nilgiri Langur,
Giant Squirrel, Jungle Cat), for trade in parts or whole (live) (e.g.
civets, cats, Elephant, Lion-tailed Macaque, mongoose, shrews,
Sloth Bear, porcupines), as pests (e.g. Nilgai, deer, fruit bats,
some rodents and shrews, Wild Boar) and incidental. These
factors play a crucial role in population numbers and genetic
diversity of mammals. Combined, these separate factors, viz.
killing, habitat loss, development, fragmentation and restricted
distribution, pose a considerbale threat to mammal fauna of
Western Ghats. If perceptible threats such as above are a
concern, information on subtle factors that influence population
structures such as habitat quality, microhabitats, vegetation
types, etc. are not studied to draw any concrete conclusions.
However, taking a precautionary approach, it is 'safe' to surmise
that habitat quality is rapidly changing (deteriorating for many
specialized species and improving for a few adaptable species)
due to human practices in forest areas (protected or non
protected). Man-made fires, humus collection, lopping of trees,
non-timber forest produce collection practices, timber harvesting,
frequency of human intrusions into the forest, monoculture
practices and management of habitat for a specific species are
but a few examples of factors contributing to change in quality
of habitat, some obvious but others not so. Exotic weeds, inter-
specific competition and their impacts on the vegetation and in
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Table 3. The number of endemic species of land mammals in different regions of India.
Order Western Andaman & Other Parts Total #
Ghats Nicobar Isles of India of species
1. Insectivora 1 4 1 6
2. Scandentia - 1 1 2
3. Chiroptera 4 2 2 8
4. Primates 2 - 1 3
5. Carnivora 3 - 1 4
6. Proboscidea - - - -
7. Perissodactyla - - - -
8. Artiodactyla 1 - - 1
9. Pholidota - - - -
10. Rodentia 5 3 9 17
11. Lagomorpha - - - -
Total 16 10 15 41
Table 4. Endemic mammals of the Western Ghats
Scientific name (Common name) Family/ Order Estimated Number of 1994 IUCN Red List
Range Area locations Category (Criteria)
1. Funambulus tristriatus (Jungle Striped Squirrel) Sciuridae/ Rodentia > 20 ,000 km2> 2,000 km2Many LRnt
2. Hemitragus hylocrius (Nilgiri Tahr) Bovidae/ Artiodactyla < 5,000 km2> 500 km220 (Fragmented) EN (B1+2acd; C2a)
3. Hipposideros hypophyllus (Kolar Leaf-nosed Bat) Rhinolophidae/ Chiroptera < 20 ,000 km2< 2,000 km2< 5 VU (B1+2c; D2)
4. Hipposideros schistatus (Bellary Leaf-nosed Bat) Rhinolophidae/ Chiroptera < 5,000 km2< 10 km21DD
5. Latidens salimalii (Salimali’s Fruit Bat) Pteropodidae/ Chiroptera < 20 ,000 km2< 500 km22 EN (B1+2a; C2a)
6. Macaca silenus (Lion-tailed Macaque) Cercopithecidae/ Primates > 20,000 km2< 500 km2Many (Fragmented) EN (B1+2c; c2a)
7. Martes gwatkensi (Nilgiri Marten) Mustelidae/ Carnivora < 20,000 km2> 2,000 km2Many (Fragmented) VU (B1+2bc)
8. Millardia kondana (Kondana Rat) Muridae/ Rodentia < 5,000 km2> 500 km22 VU (D2)
9. Mus famulus (Bonhote's Rat) Muridae/ Rodentia < 5,000 km2> 500 km21 EN (B1+2c)
10. Otomops wroughtoni (Wroughton’s Free-tailed Bat) Molossidae/ Chiroptera < 100 km2< 10 km21 CR (B1+2c)
11. Paradoxurus jerdoni (Brown Palm Civet) Viverridae/ Carnivora < 20,000 km2> 2,000 km2Many (Fragmented) VU (B1+2bc)
12. Platacanthomys lasiurus (Spiny Dormouse) Muridae/ Rodentia < 5,000 km2< 2,000 km2> 10 LRlc
13. Rattus ranjiniae (Ranjini’s Rat) Muridae/ Rodentia < 100 km2> 100 km21 VU (D2)
14. Suncus dayi (Day’s Shrew) Soricidae/ Insectivora < 20,000 km2< 2,000 km25 (Fragmented) VU (B1+2c)
15. Trachypithecus johnii (Nilgiri Langur) Cercopithecidae/ Primates > 20,000 km2< 2,000 km2Many (Fragmented) VU (A1d; B1+2c; C2a)
16. Viverra civettina (Malabar Civet) Viverridae/ Carnivora < 20,000 km2< 2,000 km21 CR (C2a)
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turn on native fauna are threats that are almost irreversible.
Endemicity
The term 'endemic' denotes restriction to an area, whatever the
size. Endemic mammals of Western Ghats are 16 species or more
if depending on the degree of detail of taxonomy subspecies are
listed. Nine of the endemic mammals are restricted to less than
10 locations with as many as five in one location. Since the
status is derived on the available information, it may be possible
that the species occurs in more locations but have not been
recorded. For some species (e.g. Malabar Civet) where there is
no recent sighting, it could be that the species is extinct.
However, the information available at the workshop determined
the status of the species. An example of updating the categories
based on new available information is seen when the status of
Salim Ali's Fruit Bat (Latidens salimalii) is compared. The 2000
Red List of Threatened Species (Hilton-Taylor, 2000) indicates
that the species is Critically Endangered given its highly
restricted nature. The information used for this species is based
on an earlier assessment (1996), which has been continued in
the current listing. However, new information at the CAMP
workshop indicated that the species is found in two locations
rather than one and that increased the range and area, which
decreased the status from Critically Endangered to Endangered.
In the next iteration of the International Red List this information
can be used to update the listing.
Table 5. Conservation status of mammals of the Western Ghats.
Order CR EN VU LRnt LRlc DD NE Total
1. Insectivora - - 4 - 5 1 - 9
2. Scandentia ---1---1
3. Chiroptera 11320816150
4. Primates - 1 1 1 1 1 - 5
5. Carnivora 1181042-25
6. Proboscidea - 1 - - - - - 1
7. Artiodactyla - 1 3 1 6 - - 11
8. Pholidota ---1---1
9. Rodentia - 1 5 5 17 3 - 31
10. Lagomorpha ----1--1
Total 2 6 24 38 41 23 1 135
CR - Critically Endangered, EN - Endangered, VU - Vulnerable, LRnt - Lower Risk near threatened, LRlc - Lower Risk least concern, DD - Data Deficient.
Note: The status are based on the 1997 CAMP workshop (Molur et al., 1998) and/or 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Hilton-Taylor, 2000). For those species
not assessed globally, the status is for India only as per the 1997 CAMP workshop for mammals.
Conclusion
It is a normal practice to include marine mammals as part of
Indian mammals (Sathasivam, 1996; Balakrishnan, 1997). This
practice has been avoided in this paper and all the proportions
indicated in various tables reflect the calculations of the totals
of land mammals occuring in Western Ghats mountain chain
and the narrow coastal strip on the west.
It is important to note that the assessments are based on available
information and can be revised as and when more information
becomes available. The IUCN (1994) realized the need for a
proactive assessment strategy and hence encouraged
estimations, inferences and predictions in deriving status
assessments. The information for endemic mammals of Western
Ghats, however, is fairly reliable, particularly for the larger forms
(primates and civets). The smaller endemic mammals and some
of the other non-endemic fauna have been assessed based on
known locations, current habitat status and continuing threats
to either population or habitat. Information is gathered from
literature as well as personal experiences, thereby making the
assessment more reliable and inclusive.
Habitat loss, fragmentation and change in quality are important
factors for the over all decline in mammalian populations in
Western Ghats. Appropriate measures for holistic conservation
is the need of the hour, rather than approaches such as the
flagship-species concept or the umbrella-species concept. At
the species level, enough protection from hunting should be
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November 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(11): 629-639
accorded and in certain extreme cases urgent management
actions including captive breeding should be considered for
conservation of the species. For species affected by severe
fragmentation (e.g. Lion-tailed Macaques), population viability
assessments show that unless isolated groups are managed like
zoo populations with a scientific breeding and exchange
programme, the species has a very high probability of extinction
in the near future (Kumar et al., 1995).
Small mammals are very poorly studied, which is reflected in the
number of Data Deficient species. Although the status of most
species is at a larger scale (global or national), the information
on small mammals in Western Ghats remains sparce. With the
small mammals dominating the make up of the land mammals of
Western Ghats, it is imperative to accord more importance to
their studies, especially in the light of their treatment as vermin
in the current Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972/1991.
The Western Ghats is generally believed to be better protected
than the other hotspot in India. However, if reticence to recognise
the impact of human influence continues (logical, though, it
may seem), the effects will soon prove disastrous for the
biodiversity of Western Ghats.
Acknowledgements
The assessments were achieved due to the participants of the
Mammal CAMP workshop, without whose voluntary
participation and sharing of information, the status would have
been biased. We thank all of them. We acknowledge the support
and contributions from various individuals such as Larry Heaney,
Ajith Kumar and the organisations conducting and facilitating
the Biodiversity Conservation Prioritization Project.
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