Reptile Species' Endangerment of Extinction

"Reptiles represent an important and diverse branch of the tree of life and play integral roles in the eco-system where they occur."

"This global assessment is a key beginning to understanding reptile conservation needs. Now we know where the priorities are and what the threats are that we need to ameliorate."

Bruce Young, chief zoologist, senior conservation scientist, NatureServe, biodiversity science organization, Arlington, Virginia

"Global collaboration and commitment are a must if we are to prevent an extinction catastrophe."

Neil Cox, manager, Biodiversity Assessment Unit, International Union for Conservation of Nature

The green vine snake (Ahaetulla nasuta ) is among the world's reptiles that face extinction. Photograph: Ruchira Somaweera/IUCN/ZSL

 

A new study on biodiversity threats focusing on the world's reptile species, published in the journal Nature, indicates that roughly one fifth of reptile species from the Galapagos tortoise to the Komodo dragon of Indonesian islands face the threat of extinction. A conclusion based on the first comprehensive global assessment of the status of reptile conservation and possible extinction.

Other species at risk studied by researchers included West Africa's rhinoceros viper and India's gharial. A total of 10,196 reptile species was included in the study from turtles, crocodilians, lizards and snakes, to the tuatara, the sole member of a lineage dating back over 200 million years still to survive. The study found that 21 percent of species classified as reptiles are in the critically endangered category; endangered or vulnerable to extinction.

 

Lyriocephalus scutatus, another lizard species on threatened list. Photograph: Ruchira Somaweera/IUCN/ZSL

 

Another 31 species were identified that had already been declared extinct. The research reported that many reptiles are threatened to the brink of extinction through factors that imperil Earth's other land vertebrates, amphibians, birds and mammals. Deforestation to prepare arable lands devoted to agriculture; logging and development; urban encroachment; and hunting. Throw in climate change and invasive species competing with species indigenous to certain geographies and the threats multiply.

Status reports that preceded this one found that some 41 percent of amphibian species, 25 percent of mammal species, and 14 percent of bird species were placed on the threatened-with-extinction list.The status of species are assessed on circumstances associated with distribution, abundance, threats and population trends.

The world's longest venomous snake, the king cobra is vulnerable to extinction, as is the leatherback, the larges sea turtle. Vulnerable to extinction is the Galapagos marine iguana, and various tortoise species on Galapagos, ranging from vulnerable to extinct.

A dead green sea turtle washes up on the beach in the Khor Kalba Conservation Reserve on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates. AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili,