Extensive research conducting the first comprehensive assessment of the extinction risk of reptiles on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ has found that more than one in five species (at least 21%) of reptiles in the world world are in danger of becoming extinct. The study, which has been published in Nature, has been led by NatureServe, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Conservation International, and also reveals that the initiatives that have been carried out for the conservation of other animals have been able to contribute to the protection of many species of reptiles.
A team of scientists representing 24 countries on six continents has participated in the research, and has studied the conservation needs of 10,196 species of reptiles -including turtles, crocodiles, lizards, snakes and tuatara, the only living specimen of a lineage which evolved in the Triassic period, around 200-250 million years ago – compared to mammals, birds and amphibians.
Researchers have found that strategies to protect threatened mammals, birds, and amphibians are more likely than expected to also benefit many of the endangered reptiles. Most reptile species are found in forested habitats, where they are exposed to threats such as logging and clearing of forests for agriculture. The results of the work have shown that 30% of reptiles that live in forests are at risk of extinction, compared to 14% of reptiles in arid habitats.
Hunting is the main threat to turtles and crocodiles, half of which are endangered
“I was surprised by the degree to which mammals, birds and amphibians, taken together, can serve as stand-ins for reptiles,” said Dr. Bruce Young, study co-director and chief zoologist and senior conservation scientist at NatureServe. “This is good news because extensive efforts to protect well-known animals have probably helped protect many reptiles as well. Habitat protection is essential to protect reptiles, as well as other vertebrates, from threats such as agricultural activities and urban development.”
What can we lose if we don’t protect reptiles?
If every one of the 1,829 threatened reptiles were to become extinct, we would lose a total of 15.6 billion years of evolutionary history, including countless adaptations to living in diverse environments. “The results of the Global Reptile Assessment point to the need to intensify global efforts to conserve them,” said Neil Cox, co-leader of the study and Manager of the Biodiversity Assessment Unit at IUCN-Conservation International. “Because reptiles are so diverse, they face a wide range of threats in a variety of habitats. A multifaceted action plan is needed to protect these species, with all the evolutionary history they represent.”
The authors of the work have declared that it is necessary to establish urgent conservation measures specifically aimed at protecting some of the most endangered reptile species on the planet, especially the endemic lizards of the islands threatened by introduced predators and those that are most affected by the human activity, since hunting, for example, is the main threat to turtles and crocodiles, half of which are in danger of extinction.
“Reptiles aren’t often used to inspire conservation action, but they are fascinating creatures and play indispensable roles in ecosystems around the planet. We all benefit from its role in controlling pest species and as prey for birds and other animals,” said Dr. Sean T. O’Brien, president and CEO of NatureServe. “Analysis from the first global reptile assessment allows us to identify where reptiles need help the most and serves as an important step in countering the global extinction crisis.”
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