List of endangered reptiles facts for kids
Imagine a world where some of your favorite animals might disappear forever. That's what it means for a species to be endangered. It means they are facing a very high risk of dying out in the wild.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a group that keeps track of animals and plants around the world. They decide which species are endangered. In September 2016, they listed 382 different kinds of reptiles as endangered. This means about 7.4% of all the reptile species they checked are in danger. They also listed nine reptile subspecies and one group of a species as endangered.
For an animal to be called endangered, it has to meet certain rules that show it's in big trouble. Some animals are even more at risk; they are called critically endangered. These animals are listed separately because they are in even greater danger. In total, 578 reptile species are either endangered or critically endangered.
Sometimes, there isn't enough information about a reptile species to know if it's in danger. These are called "data deficient." Even though we don't know for sure, these species often live in small areas or have small populations, which means they are likely to be threatened. The IUCN suggests we should still pay attention to them, just in case.
This article shares some examples of the many reptile species and subspecies that are endangered.
Turtles and Tortoises: Reptiles in Danger
There are 44 types of turtles and tortoises, one subspecies, and one specific group of turtles that are endangered.
Sea Turtles and Tortoises Facing Threats
Species
- The Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a large sea turtle found in tropical and subtropical waters.
Subpopulations
- A specific group of Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is also endangered.
Land Tortoises at Risk
Species
- The Western Santa Cruz giant tortoise (Chelonoidis porteri) and the Southern Isabela giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vicina) are large tortoises from the Galápagos Islands.
Subspecies
- The Western Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni hermanni) is a smaller tortoise found in parts of Europe.
Other Endangered Turtles
Many other types of turtles are also endangered, including several kinds of Asian box turtles and softshell turtles. For example:
- The Chinese box turtle (Cuora flavomarginata)
- The Black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda spengleri)
- The Cantor's giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii)
- The Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
Lizards: Small and Large Reptiles in Peril
There are 241 species and seven subspecies of lizards that are endangered.
Iguanas and Their Relatives
Species Many types of iguanas are endangered, especially those living on islands.
- The Blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi) from the Cayman Islands is a famous example.
- The Lesser Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima) is also in danger.
Subspecies
- Some groups of the Marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) from the Galápagos Islands are endangered.
Chameleons: Masters of Disguise in Danger
Many chameleons, known for changing color, are also endangered. Most of these live in Madagascar and Africa.
- The Tiger chameleon (Archaius tigris)
- The Pygmy leaf chameleon (Brookesia minima)
- The Lesser chameleon (Furcifer minor)
Geckos and Other Lizards at Risk
A large number of geckos, known for their sticky feet, are endangered.
- The Round Island day gecko (Phelsuma guentheri) is one example.
- The Psychedelic rock gecko (Cnemaspis psychedelica) is another.
Other endangered lizards include:
- The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the largest lizard in the world.
- The Chinese crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus).
- The Adelaide pygmy blue-tongue skink (Tiliqua adelaidensis).
Snakes: Slithering into Danger
There are 97 species and one subspecies of snakes that are endangered.
Blind Snakes and Vipers in Trouble
Many types of blind snakes, which live underground, are endangered.
- The Mona blind snake (Typhlops monensis) is one example.
Several vipers, known for their venom, are also endangered.
- The Cyclades blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera schweizeri)
- The Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis)
- The Caucasian viper (Vipera kaznakovi)
Subspecies
- A subspecies of the Meadow viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis) is endangered.
Other Endangered Snakes
Many other snake families have endangered members, including:
- The Ornate ground snake (Erythrolamprus ornatus)
- The Dusky sea snake (Aipysurus fuscus)
- The Louisiana pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni)
- The Seychelles wolf snake (Lycognathophis seychellensis)
- The Round Island boa (Casarea dussumieri)
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