(CU)_A group of scientists from the United States published the first ever comprehensive global status assessment for reptiles, on Wednesday (27 April). While it was no secret that just like all other vertebrates, reptiles are also feeling the effects of climate change, data on this recent report paints a grimmer picture.
According to the study, which examined 10,196 reptile species from across the globe, a fifth of reptile species are threatened with extinction. From the Galapagos tortoises to India’s gharial and West Africa’s rhinoceros viper, 21 per cent of species are either endangered, critically endangered or vulnerable to extinction, as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is addition to 31 species that have already gone into extinction.
According to previous reports, 41 per cent of amphibian species, 25 per cent of mammals and 14 per cent of birds were threatened with extinction. The researchers said many reptiles are being pushed to the brink by the same factors that threaten the existence of these other vertebrates. These factors include deforestation for agricultural purposes, logging and development, hunting by people and urban encroachment. Invasive species, as well as the effects of climate change, also present ongoing threats, the report, which was published in the journal Nature, added.
“Reptiles represent an important and diverse branch of the tree of life and play integral roles in the ecosystems where they occur,” Bruce Young, co-author of the study, said. “This global assessment is a key beginning to understanding reptile conservation needs,” Young, who is the chief zoologist and senior conservation scientist at Arlington Virginia-based NatureServe, added. “Now we know where the priorities are and what the threats are that we need to ameliorate. There is no longer any excuse for leaving reptiles out of conservation planning and implementation efforts worldwide.”
