A new study has found that more than half of all reptile species are at risk of extinction. This could have a devastating effect on the planet.
Nature published the largest ever analysis of the status of world’s reptiles and found that 21% are at risk of extinction. Such a loss could have catastrophic consequences for ecosystems around the globe, including lizards and even snakes. The study says.
Neil Cox, coleader of the study and manager of Conservation International’s biodiversity assessment unit, stated that if each of the 1,829 endangered reptiles were extinct, we would lose 15.6bn years of our evolutionary history. This is evolution we can’t get back. It would be a huge loss.
He said that if we remove reptiles, it could drastically change ecosystems. This could have unfortunate knock-on effects such as an increase in pest insects. The ecosystem services that provide a healthy environment to people are based on biodiversity, which includes reptiles.
Fivety-two experts analyzed data from the Global Reptile AssessmentThis journal has received contributions from over 900 scientists on six continents over the past 17-years. Although 1,829 species of the 10,196 species are considered to be endangered, it was impossible to determine the status of 1,489. These species are not included in the data, so 21% are considered to be threatened.
NatureServe, Conservation International, and the IUCN led this study.
Many reptiles can be found in deserts and scrubland but most species live in forests. They are vulnerable to logging and land conversion for agriculture. The study revealed that 30% of forest-dwelling reptiles are in danger of extinction compared to 14% in arid habitats. The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannahFor example, the globally endangered Species (or ) is in decline across large parts of Asia due to loss of forest habitat.
Hunting is a major threat to reptiles, particularly turtles and crocodiles. Many of these species are at risk of extinction. The introduction of invasive species is another contributing factor.
Reptiles are less popular than some other species of land mammals and marine life. However, they are more endangered than birds. Mike Hoffmann is the head of wildlife recovery at London’s Zoological Society of London. He was also one of the scientists who participated in the study.
They are fascinating, from turtles that can breathe through their genitals to giant tortoises with a lifespan of over 100 years to chameleons as large as chickpeas and chameleons that can grow to the size of small chickens. We hope that this first-ever assessment, which includes 10,000+ reptiles from around the globe, will help to bring them into the spotlight. It also helps to highlight the diversity of these reptiles and how much we have to learn.
Reptiles offer many other benefits, including the ability to control pests like rats and mosquitoes. Hoffmann stated that they help disperse seed, especially in islands. We have also made many medical breakthroughs through studies on reptiles. For example, snake venom has led to important drug discoveries, including those for hypertension.
The impending loss [of reptile species]Could have wide-ranging and unanticipated impacts on our environment, and our own well-being.
Reptiles in Australia, which is home to approximately 10% of the world’s species, are facing increasing threats. Nicki Mitchell, from the School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, also contributed to the study. She said that most of Australia’s threatened reptiles have been losing their habitats and are being preyed upon by invasive cats or foxes.
Climate change is a growing threat to species living in small habitats. Their microclimates will change, and it may not be optimal for them to thrive.
This study is not necessarily a doom story. Scientists pointed out that efforts to conserve other animals are likely not to include protecting reptile species as collateral. Bruce Young, co-leader in the study and chief zoologist, NatureServe senior conservation scientist, stated that it was surprising that you can simultaneously protect endangered reptiles if you protect areas where threatened birds, mammals, and amphibians live together.
Cox stated that reptiles need to be protected by global efforts. Cop15’s second stage of Cop15s in Kunming, China is scheduled for later this year. Here, governments will negotiate new targets to preserve biodiversity, including reptiles.
He stated that we need strong conservation plans, global policy agreements, and countries to fully invest in the solution to the looming biodiversity crisis to avoid the ongoing extinction disaster.
Follow biodiversity reporters to get more coverage on the age of extinction Phoebe Weston Patrick GreenfieldFollow us on Twitter to get the most recent news and features
