"Nature" report says that more than one-fifth of the world's reptiles face extinction

According to a first-ever global assessment of endangered reptiles published April 27 in Nature, more than one in five reptile species could become extinct due to threats such as agricultural production, deforestation, urban development and invasive species

Bruce Young and colleagues compiled data from more than 900 researchers around the world to assess the extinction risk of 10,196 species of reptiles, including sea turtles, crocodiles and lizards.

This means that most reptiles are in better shape than amphibians (40.

In addition, the analysis revealed that 31 species of reptiles have become extinct

Threats to various reptiles are uneven

For crocodiles and their close relatives, the danger is almost as serious

The researchers found that agricultural production, deforestation and urban development posed the greatest threats, with species in tropical regions such as Southeast Asia, West Africa, northern Madagascar and the Caribbean islands at greatest risk

The results are worrying because these animals play a vital role in the ecosystem

There are relatively few conservation programs targeting reptiles, but efforts to protect other animals may have helped them to some extent

These findings will inform negotiations at COP15, the United Nations Conference on Biological Diversity

"This information is critical for designing effective conservation measures, understanding which reptile species might benefit from existing efforts, and which ones need protection,

"Protecting reptiles and mammals requires both a massive expansion of protected area networks and rapid increases in crop yields, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South America," said David Tilman of the University of Minnesota

Related paper information: https://doi.