• Species hunters: the impossible task of describing the natural world

Any change in the natural balance of the planet in turn causes profound and complex changes in ecological communities.

Animal species are interconnected, and conservation efforts by one species often benefit others.

These are some of the lessons of a study, published this Tuesday in the journal Nature, on the

risk of extinction of the reptiles

that appear on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

To carry out this inventory, a team of more than

900 researchers

representing

24 countries

has analyzed the situation of

10,196 species

, comparing it with that of mammals, birds and amphibians.

The authors point out that many reptiles are benefiting from the conservation efforts of other animals, even more so than previously thought.

"That's great news because the big initiatives to protect the best-known animals also help reptiles.

Habitat preservation is essential

: as with other vertebrates, they face threats such as increased agricultural land and development. urban", says

Bruce Young

, co-director of the study and Zoologist of the NGO NatureServe.

Even so, the results indicate that at least

21%

of all the species of this group of vertebrates

are in danger

.

"Some reptiles - including most species of crocodiles and tortoises - require urgent and targeted action to prevent their extinction," the scientists write, "but efforts to protect other tetrapods, such as habitat preservation and illegal trade and invasive species will likely benefit many others as well.

Deforestation

Those results underscore the additional effects of conservation efforts on any given habitat.

To a large extent, reptiles are identified with animals of this group that live in arid landscapes, such as deserts or scrublands, but in reality the majority are found in forest environments.

There they share with other animals the threats that weigh on the ecosystem, such as deforestation.

The study notes that

30% of reptiles living in forests are in danger of extinction,

compared to 14% in arid habitats.

Hence the need for urgent and specific conservation measures to protect some of the most endangered reptile species, especially the endemic island lizards, decimated by invasive species.

Illegal hunting and trade are the main threats to turtles and crocodiles

, half of which are endangered.

"The results of the World Reptile Assessment point to the need to redouble efforts to conserve them," adds

Neil Cox

, co-leader of the study and director of the IUCN Biodiversity Assessment Unit.

"Because reptiles are so diverse, they face a wide range of threats in a wide variety of habitats. A multidimensional action plan is needed to protect these species, with the full evolutionary history they represent."

15.6 billion years of evolutionary history

Species that have been tracked include

turtles, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, and tuatara

, a type of reptile endemic to the islands surrounding New Zealand, the only living member of a lineage that evolved in the Triassic 200-250 million years ago. .

That is why the analysis also points out the consequences of inaction in terms of natural history: the loss of the 1,829 threatened reptiles would mean the disappearance of a total of 15.6 billion years of evolutionary history, including countless adaptations to live in diverse environments.

The results of this reptile assessment will serve as a baseline to measure changes in extinction risk and track the progress of species recovery over time.

The results will also be valuable in helping to guide the allocation of conservation resources by identifying key biodiversity areas (hotspots) and other areas where active management could prevent extinctions.

"Reptiles are not often used to inspire conservation action, but they are fascinating creatures and play indispensable roles in ecosystems around the planet," explains

Sean O'Brien

, president of the NGO and co-author of the study.

"We all benefit from their pest control and prey function for birds and other animals. This first global assessment allows us to pinpoint where they need the most help and serves as an important step in countering the global extinction crisis."

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