The IUCN makes knowledge of its new "Red List". In which he publishes the names of the Endangered Reptilesthan by human influence and other important factors. It amounts to 20% of the known or registered total. Discover here a complete content of this topic.
Endangered Reptiles
The endangered reptiles, are a group of animals, whose name comes from the way they move, from the Latin "reptile", whose meaning is "crawling". Where, it is known that these species appeared on planet Earth, around 318 million years ago.
Constituting the dominant existence throughout the Mesozoic, which is what is called the "Age of the Dinosaurs". In the Triassic (first era), Jurassic (second era) and Cretaceous (third and last era) periods.
But today, unfortunately due to the behavior and negative impact of humans, where the Environmental deterioration It is so evident that it not only harms the ecosystem but also harms itself.
For this reason, these animals are included in the "Red List" published by the International Commission for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Where, of the 10.233 species that inhabit and subsist, 20% are in latent danger of extinction.
Main Characteristics of Reptiles in Danger of Extinction
Reptiles are a category of animals provided with a skeleton, spine and skull, as well as a central nervous system that is made up of the spinal cord and the brain. In which, the embryo develops an amnion and an allantoic bag, being jointly endowed with scales in its epidermis, where they are made up of a protein with a fibrous composition called keratin.
These, despite leading a common terrestrial life, some manage their usual ease in the aquatic environment. Among its relevant characteristics are:
- Lungs that facilitate the exchange of gases with the environment.
- Its circulatory system is double circuit. This means that it has a pathway responsible for transporting and taking the blood contained in the lungs. While the other fulfills the objective of transporting and taking the blood distributed in the body.
- They are mostly carnivores.
- Your excretory system produces and holds urine before it is expelled.
- Snakes are capable of capturing vibrations produced in the ground.
- Reproduction is internal, with sperm deposit, where the female then produces the shell that protects them where they develop.
- His vision, smell and hearing are excellent.
- They are able to regulate their body temperature, just by moving to another site.
- Some have four legs, others crawl like snakes, while some are provided with a solid and resistant shell, contained in the skeleton, as is the case with turtles.
Classification or Types
The endangered reptiles, have the following sets to describe their classification or types:
- Scaly or Scaled Lizards (Squamata): This type is made up of lizards and snakes. Where lizards have four legs to move and snakes do not have legs, but crawl. These are characterized by having an elongated body and provided with thick and scratchy scales, which provide shelter, defense and security to their body. Mainly preventing the loss of its moisture.
- Turtles (Testudines): Turtles have the peculiarity of being accustomed to developing in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Its body has a solid shell integrated into its skeleton that provides the protection it needs. It moves on four legs and is further distinguished by having a horny beak in its mouth and a smaller tail.
- Alligators and Crocodiles (Crocodylia): This type of reptiles has a habitual terrestrial behavior, unlike its diet, which is preferably aquatic. These are cataloged as the most aggressive of this animal species, particularly towards the continents of America and Africa. They have a very prominent jaw with numerous teeth and their body, apart from being bulky, is extremely strong.
- Tuatara (Rhynchocephalia): These constitute a set of what many call "walking fossils", currently integrating a single genus called Sphenodon. Of the three categories owned or exclusive to New Zealand. They are characterized by having an elongated body, with an approximate length of 70 centimeters.
Main Threats of Reptiles in Danger of Extinction
Reptiles in danger of extinction are under powerful threats that limit, restrict and prevent them from continuing their survival every day. Being the Environmental problems a part of them. The main threats include the following:
- Contamination: Water pollution (of water), soil, air, among others, is one of the great and incidental damages suffered by reptiles in danger of extinction. In all its species as in all the places in the world where they live. Which come, for example, from the various jobs such as: industrial (through drainage of toxic waste and gases) and agricultural (due to the indiscriminate use of pesticides).
- Agriculture and Aquaculture: The growing development of these items has resulted in reptiles being limited in terms of their normal development. This is due to the fact that their feeding medium is with a highly restricted access and quantity. Apart from the fact that this work causes a modification of the habitat where it regularly develops.
- Deforestation and Mining: These two cause marked damage to the environment and habitat of these species, damaging their nests, killing their young and forcing them to flee so as not to die.
- Hunting and Fishing: Indiscriminate hunting for trade, keeping them in captivity as pets, in gastronomy through exotic dishes (eggs and meat) or use of the skin, for making clothes; they constitute a potential threat that does not stop.
- Predators: These are the ones that are sharing the same habitat and that, according to their level of dominance, come to be placed above them, taking them as food or simply taking away the available food they need.
Examples
Are examples of endangered reptiles, the following:
Leatherback or Cardon Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
According to the “Red List”, it is located under the category of “Vulnerable”. They are its threats, indiscriminate fishing, its use in gastronomy for its meat and eggs, the excessive contamination of the waters where it lives, among others. This is considered the largest that lives on Earth and is found in tropical and temperate waters.
It feeds mainly on jellyfish, however its diet also includes algae, squid, some fish, sea urchins and crustaceans. They are polygamous. The males do not leave the sea and the females only do so to lay their eggs.
Phipson's Ground Snake (Uropeltis phipsonii)
It is located on the “Red List” as “Vulnerable”. Its great threats of extinction are the habitational invasion carried out by human beings in its habitat, reducing its space. The increase in tourist areas where it operates and agriculture mainly is what causes this kind of endangered snakes find yourself in this situation.
Their natural predators par excellence are birds. It is characterized by having an elongated body and provided with scales that are very soft to the touch. Its greater length oscillates around 28 centimeters. It lives underground, it is very docile and when the ground is moist it increases its activity.
Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
Also known as Gavial de Ganges or Gavial de India. It is positioned on the “Red List”, under the condition of “Critical Danger”. Its eminent threats are agriculture, the cultivation of aquatic plant and animal species (known as aquaculture) and mining. Along with the excessive scarcity of getting their food from permanent fishing.
It is a species of the Crocodilia order, it has an elongated and very thin snout. It feeds on fish and its length can reach up to 6 meters with an approximate weight of 950 kilograms.
Bartle Frere Lizard (Techmarscincus jigurru)
This lizard, native to or exclusive to Australia, is on the "Red List" of endangered reptiles with the category of “Vulnerable”. Where everything lies in the strong incidence of climate change that has occurred lately in the area where it develops its habitat.
It is normally known as Bartle Frere's Skink, having been found very recently in 1981 and presented with its complete description and identification in 1984. Its body is long and flattened, showing great agility. It is oviparous.
Jungle Lizard (Contomastix vittata)
This species of lizard of the kingdom animalia, class reptilia, family teiidae, is a species of its own or exclusive to Bolivia. That it is in danger of extinction according to the "Red List" in the "Vulnerable" category. Bearing that this is due solely to the invasion that humans have made. By restricting the habitat where it develops with the various constructions for its settlement.
Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
Also called olive ridley turtle, parrot turtle or bastard turtle. It is found on the "Red List" in the line of "Critical Danger" of extinction. Of which, the main reason is incidental apprehension. This is not part of the classes. freshwater turtles, so that means it's a sea turtle.
Their diet is based on sea urchins, jellyfish, various crustaceans and algae. Its habitat is found in the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland (a huge island off the northeastern coast of North America) to Venezuela.
El Hierro Giant Lizard (Gallotia simonyi)
This species, native or exclusive to the Canary Islands (on the Island of El Hierro), is on the “Red List” with the category “Critical Danger”. Due to the intervention of man, together with the incorporation of species from other places. Their natural predators are birds of prey. Among its characteristics is that it is omnivorous, that is, it feeds on plants and insects.
Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana)
This endangered iguana, is located on the “Red List”, with the assignment of “Least Concern” or “LC”. It is identified with the name of common iguana and its habitat is in Central and South America. It is the one with the largest dimension of the lizards. It is totally herbivorous and oviparous. Its threat of extinction is mainly due to indiscriminate hunting for various commercial purposes, including food, use of its skin, as a pet, among others.
Extinct Reptiles
Extinct reptiles include the following:
- Obamadon: This was a lizard from the Late Cretaceous period that inhabited North America.
- Caymans venezuelansis: Exclusive reptile of the country Venezuela of the Pleistocene epoch, belonging to the Quaternary period. It is the precedent of the alligator. Their settlement was located in South America.
- Crocodylus gariepensis: Its time of habitat was in the Miocene, belonging to the Neogene period, being found in South Africa.
- milleteriids: It inhabited what is now South Africa during the Paleozoic Era in the Permian. It belonged to the family of parareptiles.
- Chelonoidis abingdonii: Exclusive species of Ecuador, specifically of the Pinta Island. Its extinction is current, because it occurred in 2012. Its recognition name is the Giant Pinta Tortoise.
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