The Red Data Book is the state document established for documenting rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi as well as some local sub-species that exist within the territory of the state or country. This book provides central information for studies and monitoring programmes on rare and endangered species and their habits.
According to the Red Data Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are 47 critically endangered species in India (as of 5 September 2011).
The Red List of 2012 was released at the Rio+20 Earth Summit . It contains 132 species of plants and animals in India listed as critically endangered.
The list of the top endangered animals are as follows:
| Arthropoda | |
|---|---|
| Rameshwaram parachute spider | Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica |
| Peacock tarantula | Poecilotheria metallica |
| Birds | |
| White-bellied heron | Ardea insignis |
| Great Indian bustard | Ardeotis nigricepsa |
| Forest owlet | Athene blewitti |
| Baer's pochard | Aythya baeri |
| Spoon-billed sandpiper | Calidris pygmaea |
| Siberian crane | Grus leucogeranus |
| White-rumped vulture | Gyps bengalensis |
| Indian vulture | Gyps indicus |
| Slender-billed vulture | Gyps tenuirostris |
| Bengal florican | Houbaropsis bengalensis |
| Himalayan quail | Ophrysia superciliosa |
| Jerdon's courser | Rhinoptilus bitorquatus |
| Pink-headed duck | Rhodonessa caryophyllacea |
| Red-headed vulture | Sarcogyps calvus |
| Sociable lapwing | Vanellus gregarius |
| Bugun liocichla | Liocichla bugunorum |
