Scientific and common names of important mammals, birds and reptiles in India

Animals and all living creatures that have been identified and documented are given a two
part scientific name that is specific to that species. The animal scientific name format consists
first of the genus, followed by a species specific epithet. This is how all living animals are
scientifically classified.

Scientific names, also known as ‘scientific nomenclature’ is binomial phrases that consist of

combining a genus and species specific word. The genus is always capitalized while the

species-specific epithet is written lower case. This same format is used for both plants and

animals. Every known species and plant has a unique two part scientific name

Some examples of this format for scientific names include:

Animal Name Genus Epithet Scientific Name

Human Homo Sapien Homo sapien
Wolf Canis Lupus Canis lupus
Lion Panthera Leo Panthera leo
Animal scientific name classification was developed by Swedish botanist Carolus (Carl)
Linnaeus in the 1700’s. His process of combining the genus and a species specific epithet is
known as the The Linnaeus Method or Linnaean Taxonomy.
Carl Linnaeus, a practical Swedish biologist classified species into two names, one is the
genus, and the other is a specific name. Like Homo sapiens, which stands for humans? In this
homo is genus and sapiens is a specific name. Let us tell you that the classification of living
things whether animals or birds into the scientific name are important for better
communication and provides necessary information. 
In zoological classification, trinomen names are three word names for sub-species of a certain
animal group. Trinomina is the plural of trinomen. For example, the zoological name for
tigers is: Panthera tigris, while the zoological name for the subspecies Bengal Tiger
is Panthera tigris tigris.
Therefore, to recognize easily zoological names are written in a standard form. Rules
for writing are as follows:
The genus name is written first and always starts with the capital letter.
The specific is the second name which starts with the lower-case letter. In this way,
we can see the hierarchy between genus and species.
Basically, the genus and specific name are written in italics to distinguish it from the
surrounding text.
All the letters of alphabets are used in writing names i.e. 26 letters.
Gaps, accents, apostrophes, hyphens (except rare instances), and numbers are not
used.
We can also write scientific names like H. sapiens i.e. genus name can be abbreviated
and a specific name should be written in full.
Also, the names of higher-ranking groups like families or orders always begin with a
capital but are not italicized.
Animals & Birds Scientific Names
Bison Bos gaurus
Black buck Antelope cervicapra
Chinkara Gazella bennettii
Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus
Wolf Canis lupus
Lion Panthera leo
Elephant Elephas maximus
Wild Ass Equus africanus asinus
Leopard or panther Panthera pardus
Kashmir stag or hangul Cervus canadensis hanglu
Peacock Pavo cristatus
Siberian crane Grus leucogeranus
Fox Vulpes vulpes
Rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis
Tiger Panthera Tigris
Crocodile Crocodylus palustris
Gavial or Gharial Gavialis gangeticus
Horse Equus caballus
Zebra Equus quagga
Buffalow Babalus bubalis
Wild boar Sus scrofa
Arabian camel Camelus dromedaries
Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis
House wall Lizard Hemidactylus flaviviridis
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius
 Rhesus monkey or baudar Macaca mulatta
Dog Canis lupus familiaris
Cat Felis domesticus
Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus
Black rat Rattus rattus
House mouse Mus musculus
Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
Great horned owl Bubo virginianus
House sparrow Passer domesticus
House crow Corvus splendens
Common myna Acridotheres tristis
Indian parrot Psittacula eupatria
Bulbul Molpastes cafer
Koel Eudynamis scolopaccus
Pigeon Columba livia
Indian Cobra Naja naja
King cobra Ophiophagus hannah
Sea snake Hydrophiinae
Indian Python (Ajgar) Python molurus
Dhaman or rat snake Ptyas mucosa
Critically Endangered Animal Species of India
Among the classification of threatened species, the category Critically Endangered
corresponds to the greatest risk. In India, there are 70+ critically endangered animals and 60+
critically endangered plants. 300+ animals fall under the category of endangered while 140+
plants fall under the category of endangered.  This post is a detailed list of the critically
endangered animal species in India. These include mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians,
fishes, corals and so on. 

Species considered critically endangered: Critically endangered is the highest risk category
assigned by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List to wild
species. There are five quantitative criteria to determine whether a taxon is threatened. A
taxon is critically endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of
the following criteria:

Populations have declined or will decrease, by greater than 80% over the last 10 years
or three generations.
 Have a restricted geographical range.
Small population size of less than 250 individuals and continuing decline at 25% in 3
years or one generation.
Very small or restricted population of fewer than 50 mature individuals.
High probability of extinction in the wild.

Critically Endangered Animal Species of India: The Critically Endangered list includes 10
mammals, 15 birds, 6 reptiles, 19 species of amphibians, 14 fishes etc.

Critically Endangered Mammals

1. Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania).

2. Andaman White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura andamanensis)
3. Jenkin’s Andaman Spiny Shrew (Crocidura jenkinsi)
4. Nicobar White-tailed Shrew (Crocidura nicobarica)
5. Kondana Rat (Millardia kondana)
6. Large Rock Rat or Elvira Rat (Cremnomys elvira)
7. Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)
8. Malabar Civet (Viverra civettina)
9. Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
10. Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)

Critically Endangered Birds

According   to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of birds, the
information contained in the IUCN Red list version 2013.2 indicates that 15 species of birds
from India are critically endangered.

S.No. Common Name Scientific Name

1 Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri
2 Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti
3 Great Indian Bustard Ardeotisni griceps
4 Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis
5 Siberian Crane Grusleuco geranus
6 Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchuspygmeus
7 Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius
8 Jerdon’s Courser Rhinoptilusbitorquatus
9 White backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis
10 Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus
11 White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis
12 Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris
13 Indian Vulture Gyps indicus
14 Himalayan Quail Ophrysia superciliosa
15 Pink-headed Duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea
Critically endangered birds in India under a different classification can be grouped as:
 Migratory Wetland Species – Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri), Siberian Crane
(Leucogeranus leucogeranus), Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus).
Non-migratory Wetland Species – White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis).
Grassland Species – Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), Great Indian
Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), Jerdon’s Courser(Rhinoptilus bitorquatus), Sociable
Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius).
Forest Species – Forest Owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti).
Scavengers – Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus), Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus),
Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris), White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis).
Practically extinct – Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa), Pink-headed Duck
(Rhodonessa caryophyllacea)

Extra note: In the lower risk categories, the agency included 14 bird species as Endangered
and 51 as vulnerable ones. In the latest list, two birds – the River Lapwing and River Tern –
that were listed as species of least concern have been
registered as near threatened. A third bird, the long-tailed duck, which has been sighted in
India on a few occasions, has moved from ‘least concern’ to ‘vulnerable’ on the red list.
Critically Endangered Reptiles

1. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

2. Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
3. Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
4. Four-toed River Terrapin or River Terrapin (Batagur baska)
5.  Red-crowned Roofed Turtle or the Bengal Roof Turtle (Batagur kachuga)
6. Sispara day gecko (Cnemaspis sisparensis)
Critically Endangered Amphibians
1. Anamalai Flying Frog (Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus)
2. Gundia Indian Frog (Indirana gundia)
3. Kerala Indian Frog (Indirana phrynoderma)
4. Charles Darwin’s Frog (Ingerana charlesdarwini)
5. Kottigehar Bubble-nest Frog (Micrixalus kottigeharensis)
6. Amboli Bush Frog (Pseudophilautus amboli)
7. Chalazodes Bubble-Nest Frog (Raorchestes chalazodes)
8. Small Bush Frog (Raorchestes chotta)
9. Green-eyed Bush Frog (Raorchestes chlorosomma)
10. Griet Bush Frog (Raorchestes griet)
11. Kaikatt’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes kaikatti)
12. Mark’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes marki)
13. Munnar Bush Frog (Raorchestes munnarensis)
14. Large Ponmudi Bush Frog (Raorchestes ponmudi)
15. Resplendent Shrub Frog (Raorchestes resplendens)
16. Sacred Grove Bush frog (Raorchestes sanctisilvaticus)
17. Sushil’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes sushili)
18. Shillong Bubble-nest Frog (Raorchestes shillongensis)
19. Tiger toad (Xanthophryne tigerinus)
Critically Endangered Fishes
1. Pondicherry Shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon)
2. Ganges Shark (Glyphis gangeticus)
3. Knife-tooth Sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata)
4. Large-tooth Sawfish (Pristis microdon)
5. Long-comb Sawfish or Narrow-snout Sawfish (Pristis zijsron)
Critically Endangered Corals
1. Fire corals (Millepora boschmai)
Critically Endangered Spiders
1. Rameshwaram Ornamental or Rameshwaram Parachute Spider (Poecilotheria
hanumavilasumica)
2. Gooty Tarantula, Metallic Tarantula or Peacock Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica