Biology · Biodiversity and Conservation · NEET
Endemic means a species is confined to a particular region and is found nowhere else in the world. NCERT uses this exact phrase while defining biodiversity hotspots: 'high degree of endemism (that is, species confined to that region and not found anywhere else).' So if a plant or animal lives naturally in only one place on Earth, it is endemic to that place.
No. Endemic is about WHERE a species lives (geography) — confined to one region. Endangered is about extinction RISK (how likely it is to die out). A species can be endemic but common inside its region. But because endemic species live in only one place, if that one habitat is destroyed, they can go extinct fast — so many endemics do become endangered. The two ideas are linked but not the same.
A native (indigenous) species lives naturally in a region without being introduced by humans — but it may also live in many other regions too. An endemic species is native AND restricted to only that one region, found nowhere else. So every endemic species is native, but not every native species is endemic. The opposite of native is exotic/alien (introduced from outside).
A hotspot is defined by TWO things together: very high species richness AND a high degree of endemism. Hotspots are usually old, isolated regions (islands, mountain ranges) where species evolved in isolation and could not spread out, so they became unique to that area. NCERT names the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma, and Himalaya as hotspots covering India's high biodiversity — all rich in endemic species.
NCERT highlights that the Western Ghats have a greater amphibian species diversity than the Eastern Ghats, and many of these amphibians are endemic — found only in the Western Ghats and nowhere else. This is the classic exam example: 'Western Ghats have a large number of plant and animal species not found anywhere else' = endemic species.
NCERT notes hotspots are 'also regions of accelerated habitat loss.' Because an endemic species exists in only one location, losing that single habitat means losing the species from the entire planet — there is no backup population anywhere else. This is why habitat-rich, endemism-rich areas are chosen for maximum protection.
Western Ghats have a large number of plant and animal species that are not found anywhere else. Which of the following terms will you use to notify such species?
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
A species confined to a single geographic region and found nowhere else on Earth.
No. Endemic = restricted to one place (geography). Endangered = at high risk of extinction. Endemics often become endangered because they have only one habitat.
The Western Ghats — NCERT states they have greater amphibian species diversity than the Eastern Ghats, with many endemic amphibians and plants.
A biodiversity hotspot must have both very high species richness and a high degree of endemism. High endemism is one of the two defining features.
There are 34 hotspots in the world. Three cover India: Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma, and Himalaya.
