For the first time, more than 900 scientists have assessed the threat to reptiles around the world. Their conclusion: More than a fifth of all species of these terrestrial vertebrates are endangered or threatened with extinction, as the international working group reports in the journal Nature. The animals would be pushed back mainly by agriculture, deforestation, settlement construction and introduced species.
In total, the researchers checked 10 196 species. In 1829 of which are now considered endangered, very endangered or threatened with extinction. 31 species are already extinct, another 40 are very likely. To the surprise of the researchers, reptiles that occur in forests are more at risk than those in dry regions. As in the case of many other animal species, the loss of habitats ensures that the number of reptiles has decreased significantly. But not only the destruction of habitat by humans worsens the threat situation, but also illegal hunting and trade. For example, 58 percent of all turtles and 50 percent of all crocodile species threaten to die out because they are captured and sold.
The research group was not able to provide an assessment for all reptile species. In particular, there are not enough data on animals that occur in small areas. That's 1500 species. As the scientists suspect, a similar proportion of them is likely to be endangered as in the case of the known species. From this, they determined that more than 21 percent of all reptile species are threatened.
According to the experts, the risk of reptiles can be recognized worldwide. However, the situation in Southeast Asia, in West Africa, in the north of Madagascar and in the northern Andes as well as in the Caribbean, is particularly serious.
For their study, the research group used the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This has already published assessments for other classes of terrestrial vertebrates. For example, in the class of amphibians, almost 41 percent of species are threatened with extinction, about 26 percent of mammals are on the red List and more than 13 percent of birds.
