Endemic Fauna of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Bay of Bengal

subspecies. Das (2002) given as 246 species and subspecies with 99 species as endemics.
Kumar and Khanna (2006) listed about 13 endemic species of birds. The species Otus alius
Rasmussen, 1998 listed by them as endemic to Nicobar Islands but it has not been
mentioned by Dasgupta et al (2002) and Sankaran and Vijayan (1993). However, this species
is included in the present list as an endemic. The Andaman Greyrumped Swiftlet (Edible-nest
Swiftlet) Aerodramus fuciphagus inexpectata found in Andaman and Nicobars is a vagrant to
Myanmar. Therefore, it is not considered as an endemic to Islands.
The inventorisation of endemic species and subspecies of these islands is varying
much and no list is tallying with each other. Due to changes in the current taxonomic
classifications, the endemic status of many species and subspecies has been reorganised.
After summing up of various lists, 90 species and subspecies (14 full species and 76
subspecies) of birds considered endemic to the islands are included here.
Class : Aves
Order : Anseriformes
Family : ANATIDAE
1. Anas gibberifrons albogularis (Hume)
1873. Mareca albogularis Hume, Stary Feathers, 1 : 303 (Andamans).
1985. Anas gibberifrons albogularis : Tikader and Das, Glympses of Animal life of Andaman
and Nicobar Islands : 135.
Common Name : Andaman Grey Teal, Sunda Teal, Oceanic Teal.
Habitat : Found in lakes and coastal water bodies in flocks.
Distribution : India : Andaman Islands.
Status : IUCN : Endangered; IWPA : Schediule I. Once very common but their population
has drastically declined in recent times due to ruthless killing for flesh and eggs.
Order : Falconiformes
Family : ACCIPITRIDAE
2. Aviceda leuphotes andamanica Abdulali and Grubh
1970. Aviceda leuphotes andamanica J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc.., 67(2) : 137-8 (Wright Myo, S.
Andaman)
1985. Aviceda leuphotes andamanica : Tikader and Das, Glympses of Animal life of Andaman
and Nicobar Islands : 135.
Common Name : Andaman Black-crested Baza.
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