Assessment Results
Consolidated Conservation Needs Assessment
Ingerana charlesdarwini, Charles Darwin's Frog
Assessed for:
India
by:
Harikrishnan Surendran, 20 Oct 2016;
AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020;
Order:
Anura
Family:
Dicroglossidae
IUCN Global Red List:
Critically Endangered (CR)
National Red List:
(not assessed)
Distribution:
India
Evolutionary Distinctiveness score:
24.94092674
Recommended Conservation Actions:
Rescue (n=2, 50%), In Situ Conservation (n=2, 100%), In Situ Research (n=2, 100%), Conservation Education (n=2, 100%), Biobanking (n=2, 50%),
Additional Comments:
Harikrishnan Surendran, 20 Oct 2016.
The Central Zoo Authority of the Ministry of Environmental, Forest and Climate Change of India identifies this taxon as a target amphibian species for ex situ management at Chidiyatapu Biological Park in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Gupta et al. 2015, Gupta 2017).
AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020.
Harikrishnan Surendran, 20 Oct 2016.
The Central Zoo Authority of the Ministry of Environmental, Forest and Climate Change of India identifies this taxon as a target amphibian species for ex situ management at Chidiyatapu Biological Park in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Gupta et al. 2015, Gupta 2017).
AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020.
| Question # | Short Name | Question Text | Response | Comments |
| 1 | Extinction risk | Current IUCN Red List category. [Data obtained from the IUCN Red List.] |
Critically Endangered (CR) (50%) Vulnerable (VU) (50%) |
|
| 2 | Possibly extinct | Is there a strong possibility that this species might be extinct in the wild? |
No / unlikely (100%) |
|
| 3 | Phylogenetic significance | The taxon’s Evolutionary Distinctiveness (ED) score, as generated by the ZSL EDGE program. (These data are not editable by Assessors). |
ED value 20 - 50 (100%) |
|
| 4 | Protected habitat | Is a population of at least 50% of the individuals of the taxon included within a well-managed or reliably protected area or areas? |
Yes / probably (100%) |
The known distribution of this species covers two National Parks in the Andaman Islands - Mt. Harriet National Park (area approximately 47 sq. km, located in South Andaman Island) and Saddle Peak National Park (area approximately 86 sq. km, located in North Andaman Island). However, all the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries add up to less than 500 sq. km, which is about only about 8% of the total land area of the Andaman Islands. However, about 1600 sq. km (approximately 25% of land area of Andaman Islands) is protected as Tribal Reserves. While there have been no detailed faunal surveys conducted within the Tribal Reserves, it contains suitable habitats for this species. Part of the Tribal Reserve is in Little Andaman Island, from where this species was recently recorded (Harikrishnan & Vasudevan, 2015. BMC Ecology, 10.1186/s12898-015-0049-5). Harikrishnan Surendran, 20 Oct 2016 This species was previously known from Mount Harriet National Park in South Andaman (Das 1998, Vijayakumar 2013, Chandra and Rajan 2004, Chandramouli 2017, Harikrishnan and Vasudevan, 2015), Saddle Peak National Park in North Andaman (Rao et al. 2013, Chandramouli 2017), Little Andaman, Rutland, and Long Island (Harikrishnan et al., 2012, Chandramouli 2017). Its range has now been extended, and includes Havelock Island, Neil Island, Tarmugli Island, Alexandera Island and Redskin Island (Harikrishnan and Vasudevan 2018), Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Chandramouli SR, pers. comm. August 2020). It is likely to occur on more islands within the Andaman Archipelago, but there are no records from the Nicobar Islands (Harikrishnan and Vasudevan 2018). It ranges from 30 to 600 m asl (Harikrishnan and Vasudevan 2018). AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
| 5 | Habitat for reintroduction, conservation translocation or supplementation | Does enough well-managed and reliably protected habitat exist, either within or outside of currently protected areas that is suitable for conservation translocation, including population restoration or conservation introduction? |
Yes / probably (100%) |
The distribution of the species covers two national parks and tribal reserves, all of which are currently well protected and can serve as sites for reintroduction in the future. Harikrishnan Surendran, 20 Oct 2016 |
| 6 | Previous reintroductions | Have reintroduction or translocation attempts been made in the past for this species? |
No (100%) |
|
| 7 | In situ conservation activities | Are any in situ conservation actions currently in place for this species? (Only required if a Red List Assessment has not been completed, or if new actions have been implemented since the last Red List Assessment. (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.). |
Yes / probably (100%) |
This species has been recorded from a number of protected areas. AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
| 8 | In situ conservation activities | Are additional in situ conservation actions required to help conserve this species in the wild (e.g. habitat restoration and/or protection, control of invasive species, national legislation etc.)? |
Yes / probably (100%) |
Surveillance of Bd in the species populations in islands (Karthikeyan Vasudevan, pers. comm. August 2020). The key recommended conservation measures are further research throughout the Andaman Islands to document the distribution range of this taxon (Chandramouli 2017), subpopulations in Mount Harriet (Harikrishnan and Vasudevan 2018), and taxonomic research on the generic allocation of this taxon (Das 1998, Chandramouli 2017, Harikrishnan and Vasudevan 2018). Additional habitat protection is required (Chandramouli SR pers. comm. August 2020). The introduced Spotted Deer should be removed from the islands (Mohanty et al. 2015; Harikrishnan S. PhD thesis 2019). AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
| 9 | In situ research | Is additional in situ research required to better understand the species, e.g. distribution, population trends, natural history etc.? |
Yes (100%) |
The key recommended conservation measures are an estimate of populations and the impact of Bd on them (Karthikeyan Vasudevan, pers. comm. August 2020). The impact of the invasive bull frog should also be monitored (Karthikeyan Vasudevan, pers. comm. August 2020). Taxonomic research on the generic allocation of this taxon (Das 1998, Chandramouli 2017, Harikrishnan and Vasudevan 2018). Additional population monitoring is also required. AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
| 10 | Threat mitigation | Are the threats facing the taxon, including any new and emerging threats not considered in the IUCN Red List, potentially reversible? |
Threats are likely to be reversible in time frame to prevent further decline / extinction (50%) Threats unlikely to be reversed in time to prevent further decline / extinction (50%) |
Clear cutting of forests was listed as a major threat to the species in IUCN assessment. Currently, the logging operations in the Andaman Islands are restricted to bona fide local utilization within the islands. A recently identified threat to the species is habitat/forest structure alteration by invasive species. Currently, there are no management strategies/policy to control invasive species in the islands. Harikrishnan Surendran, 20 Oct 2016 The major threat to this species is forest loss due to clear-cutting and human habitation. Habitat loss due to climate change is a potential future threat to this taxon (Vijayakumar 2019), as droughts could affect its breeding success (Chandramouli SR, pers. comm. August 2020). Grazing of the understorey habitat by introduced Spotted Deer (Axis axis), is degrading the primary habitat of the species even within protected areas (Mohanty 2013, Harikrishnan S, pers. comm. August 2020). Spotted Deer are known to negatively impact the insectivorous lizard community, and preliminary data suggests that there are negative impacts on the amphibian community as well (Karthikeyan Vasudevan, pers. comm. October 2020). It is not tolerant of disturbance since it is a tree hole breeder (Chandramouli SR, pers. comm. August 2020). The Andaman Islands have the invasive Indian bull frog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus) which was probably brought for rearing into the islands in 2007-08 in several batches and released in Central Andaman (Harikrishnan and Vasudevan, 2013). They have a wide dietary niche both as adults and larvae and they are known to compete with native species and thrive (Mohanty, N.P. 2019), and they may feed on adults of this species (Karthikeyan Vasudevan, pers. comm. October 2020). Bd has been detected in populations in South Andaman (Mutnale et al. 2018; Karthikeyan Vasudevan, pers. comm. August 2020), so the possible impact of Bd on the species should be recognized as a threat (Karthikeyan Vasudevan, pers. comm. August 2020). AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
| 11 | Over-collection from the wild | Is the taxon suffering from collection within its natural range, either for food, for the pet trade or for any other reason, which threatens the species’ continued persistence in the wild? |
No / unlikely (100%) |
|
| 12 | Population recovery | Is the known population of this species in the wild large enough to recover naturally, without ex situ intervention if threats are mitigated? |
Unknown (50%) Yes / probably (50%) |
No population estimate is available for this species. However, based on quadrat surveys conducted in suitable habitats, the estimated density is 176±53 individuals/hectare. This indicates that the species is locally common in suitable habitats. Harikrishnan Surendran, 20 Oct 2016 It is not an uncommon species. Observations by Chandramouli et al. (2011) indicate it is the second most abundant species occurring in most of the islands sampled (Harikrishnan and Vasudevan, 2015; South Andaman Island and Long Island between December 2010 and March 2011 and in May 2010; Chandramouli 2017). It is a cryptic species in the forest floor and they are difficult to enumerate (Karthikeyan Vasudevan, pers. comm. August 2020). Due to ongoing localized declines in the extent and quality of habitat, some subpopulations are inferred to be decreasing (Karthikeyan Vasudevan, pers. comm. August 2020). AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
| 13 | Action plans | Does an Action Plan for the species already exist, or is one currently being developed? |
No (100%) |
|
| 14 | Biological distinctiveness | Does the taxon exhibit a distinctive reproductive mode, behaviour, aspect of morphology or physiology, within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.)? |
No aspect of biology known to be exceptional (50%) Aspect of biology shared with < 6 other species (50%) |
This species breeds in water-filled tree-holes. Harikrishnan Surendran, 20 Oct 2016 It breeds and lays eggs in water-filled tree holes, using phytotelms for breeding and oviposition (Chandramouli SR, pers. comm. August 2020). The only other species known to do this is Blythophryne beryet. AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
| 15 | Cultural/socio-economic importance | Does the taxon have a special human cultural value (e.g. as a national or regional symbol, in a historic context, featuring in traditional stories) or economic value (e.g. food, traditional medicine, tourism) within its natural range or in a wider global context? |
No (100%) |
|
| 16 | Scientific importance | Is the species vital to current or planned research other than species-specific ecology/biology/conservation within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.) e.g. human medicine, climate change, environmental pollutants and conservation science? |
No research dependent on this species (100%) |
|
| 17 | Ex situ research | Does conserving this species (or closely related species) in situ depend upon research that can be most easily carried out ex situ? |
No (100%) |
|
| 18 | Ex situ conservation activities | Is any ex situ research or other ex situ conservation action currently in place for this species? (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.) |
No / unlikely (100%) |
|
| 19 | Husbandry analog required | If an ex situ rescue program is recommended for this species, would an analog species be required to develop husbandry protocols first? |
Yes / probably (100%) |
Blythophryne beryet would be a good husbandry analog species, since they both have similar breeding biology (Chandramouli SR, pers. comm. August 2020). AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
| 20 | Husbandry analog | Do the biological and ecological attributes of this species make it suitable for developing husbandry regimes for more threatened related species? i.e. could this species be used in captivity to help to develop husbandry and breeding protocols which could be used for a similar, but more endangered species at a later stage? |
No (100%) |
|
| 21 | Captive breeding | Has this species been successfully bred and/or maintained in captivity? |
Not held in captivity to date (100%) |
|
| 22 | Conservation education/ecotourism potential | Is the species especially diurnal, active or colourful, or is there an interesting or unusual aspect of its ecology that make it particularly suitable to be an educational ambassador for conservation of the species in the range country, either in zoos or aquariums or within ecotourism activities? |
Yes (100%) |
Individuals of this species can be brightly coloured and could be used in educational activities for biodiversity conservation in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Harikrishnan Surendran, 20 Oct 2016 This is quite a colorful species and would be a good education species in zoos and within national parks. The unusual breeding biology of this species makes it suitable as a species for education purposes (Chandramouli SR pers. comm. August 2020). AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
| 23 | Mandate | Is there an existing conservation mandate recommending the ex situ conservation of this taxon? |
No (50%) Yes (50%) |
The Central Zoo Authority of the Ministry of Environmental, Forest and Climate Change of India identifies this taxon as a target amphibian species for ex-situ management at Chidiyatapu Biological Park in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Gupta et al. 2015, Gupta 2017). AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
| 24 | Range State approval | If an ex situ initiative was proposed for this species, would it be supported (and approved) by the range State (either within the range State or out-of-country ex situ)? |
No / unlikely (50%) Yes / probably (50%) |
|
| 25 | Founder specimens | Are sufficient animals of the taxon available or potentially available (from wild or captive sources) to initiate an ex situ program, if one was recommended? |
Yes / probably (100%) |
|
| 26 | Taxonomic status | Has a complete taxonomic analysis of the species in the wild been carried out, to fully understand the functional unit you wish to conserve (i.e. have species limits been determined)? |
No (100%) |
The species was described from Mt. Harriet National Park. Since the origical description, it has been recorded in other islands in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. However, no further taxonomic studies have been conducted on these populations to determine whether they represent a single species or multiple cryptic species. Harikrishnan Surendran, 20 Oct 2016 Research into species validity needs to be prioritised. The key recommended conservation measures include taxonomic research on the generic allocation of this taxon (Das 1998, Chandramouli 2017, Harikrishnan and Vasudevan 2018). AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 25 Aug 2020 |
Citation:
Harikrishnan Surendran, 2016.
AArk/ASG India Assessment Workshop, 2020.
Conservation Needs Assessment for Ingerana charlesdarwini, India.
https://conservationneeds.org/Assessment/AssessmentConsolidated?countryId=146&speciesId=3551
Accessed 29 Apr 2025
