Question

Which one of the following shows the highest degree of endemism?

• A. Birds of the Himalayas
• B. Mammals of central India
• C. Frogs of the Western Ghats
• D. Trees of the Gangetic basin

Hint:

The Western Ghats are a biodiversity hotspot with a high degree of amphibian endemism, especially frogs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Endemism refers to the ecological state of a species being native and restricted to a particular geographic area. Endemic species are typically found only in one location in the world and nowhere else. This phenomenon is especially prominent in regions with unique geographical features, such as mountain ranges, isolated islands, and biogeographical hotspots.
Among the options provided, the Western Ghats is one of the biodiversity hotspots in India, and it shows a particularly high degree of endemism, especially among amphibians, such as frogs. Approximately 30% of the frog species in the Western Ghats are endemic to the region, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world. This makes the Western Ghats one of the most important areas for frog conservation, and it has a significantly higher degree of endemism compared to other regions.
In contrast, while the Himalayas have a number of endemic bird species, the degree of endemism in birds is lower compared to that of amphibians in the Western Ghats. Similarly, mammals of central India and trees of the Gangetic basin also show some degree of endemism, but the Western Ghats stands out due to the large number of species, particularly amphibians, that are endemic to the region.
Thus, frogs of the Western Ghats exhibit the highest degree of endemism, making option (C) the correct answer.