Lesson Demo: Reptiles

A recent study has found that some of the world’s reptiles are at risk of going extinct or dying out. The same study found that some reptile species or types have already gone extinct. In order to help slow the possibility of extinction down, conservation efforts or protections are needed to save the environments of these species. 

Meet the Reptiles

​

Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates. Meaning that they rely or need heat in their environment in order to warm them up, and they have a spine or backbone. Reptiles have many other characteristics or features including: dry skin, bodies that are covered in scales, a mainly carnivorous or meat based diet, and lay eggs in order to reproduce. Reptiles live in many different habitats, from the middle of the ocean, to the mountains. They can live in freshwater environments like rivers, lakes and streams, as well as saltwater oceans. They can also live on land in forests, grasslands, and deserts. There are many different kinds of reptiles. Some examples of reptiles include snakes, turtles, tortoises, and lizards.

In Danger of Extinction

In a recent study, researchers examined almost 11,000 different species of reptiles. The study found that 21% of these species are at risk of going extinct. That means nearly one in every five reptile species is in danger. Researchers in the study also found that 31 species of reptiles had already gone extinct. Some reptile species that have gone extinct include: the Black Softshell Turtle found in India, and the Round Island Burrowing Boa, a snake found on Round Island, located off the coast of Mauritius. To classify certain species of reptiles as in danger of going extinct, the study used the classification definitions provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN is the expert on the status of species across the globe.

There are different categories for animal endangerment according to the IUCN. An animal is considered “vulnerable” if the population of the species has declined or gone down by at least 30 percent and the reasons for the decline are not known. An example of species in the vulnerable category includes the longest venomous snake, The King Cobra, and the largest sea turtle, the Leatherback. The next category is “endangered.” A species is endangered if its population has declined by at least 50 to 70 percent, and the cause or reason for the decline is known. Some endangered species include the Perret’s Montane Chameleon found in West Africa and the Komodo Dragon, which is the world’s biggest lizard. The next category is “critically endangered.” A species is critically endangered if its population has declined between 80 and 90 percent, the reason for the decline is known, and the decline has been measured for over three generations or over 10 years. Some critically endangered species include the big-headed turtle found in Southeast Asia, and the Jamaican rock iguana found in the Caribbean. Lastly, the category of animals that are “extinct.” A species is extinct if it can be found that the last living member of that species has died. Examples of extinct reptiles include the La Palma Giant lizard, from the island La Palma in Spain, and the triceratops.

Reptile species across the globe are at risk to be placed in any of these categories from vulnerable all the way to extinct. “Species are declining at a rapid rate. Some estimates ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times, more than the background rate of extinction that normally happens on the planet. So, we are at a really critical time in Earth’s history,” said Leslie Rissler, an environmental biologist at the National Science Foundation. The rate at which some of these reptiles are moving towards the extinction category is not the normal rate, which is alarming scientists because of what it could mean for the future of the planet. “Reptiles represent an important and diverse branch of the tree of life and play integral roles in the ecosystems where they occur,” stated Bruce Young, the co-leader of the study. Reptiles play an important role in the food chain and function of many ecosystems. If they were to go extinct, it would greatly affect ecosystem balance.

Conserving the Reptiles

There are many reasons that reptile species are at risk for extinction.

1.  Climate Change: The change in the temperature of the environment especially for reptiles can greatly affect if that species is able to survive. For example, Earth’s environment when dinosaurs roamed the planet changed greatly when an asteroid hit the planet. The strike limited the amount of heat and light that reached Earth’s surface. The dinosaurs could not handle this cooler environment and  became extinct.
2. Hunting by People: While some reptiles are hunted in order to use their meat for food and other things, over-hunting by humans has also caused great harm. Over hunting by humans can also reduce the population of species because there may not be enough members to reproduce with each other. For example, the Cuban Macaw, a tropical parrot that was found on the island of Cuba, eventually went extinct in the 1800s due to humans hunting and collecting the birds.
3. Deforestation: Deforestation is the removal of trees in order to create wide areas of space for resources or projects. Deforestation can really hurt a species or environment. For example, the Black-Headed Bushmaster, a snake found in Costa Rica, could be found throughout the country’s rainforest. This snake specifically  eats the small animals found in the forest including rats. Deforestation destroyed the habitats of the small animals found in the forests, forcing them out and taking away an important source of food for the black-headed bushmaster. This hurt the Black-Headed Bushmaster’s ability to survive. 
4. Logging and Urbanization: Logging is a process of cutting down trees, processing them and using their timber or wood for different things. Urbanization is the process by which cities become larger and more industrialized or modern. Both logging and urbanization require natural habitats to be removed, disrupting the environment and putting many different species of animals including reptiles at risk.

According to the researchers of the study, reptiles like many other species could be on the brink of extinction due these factors. In order to save these animals from going extinct, humans must conserve or protect their habitats. Right now, in the Amazon rainforest, there is a fight between people who want to cut down parts of the forest in order to make way for mining and agriculture or farming versus those who want to preserve the rainforest. Preserving the Amazon rainforest will not only keep the many reptile species that call the rainforest their home from going extinct, but it will also protect our planet. Trees naturally give off oxygen into the atmosphere, which humans and animals need to breathe. By cutting down trees, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change.

In order to make sure that at risk reptile species continue to survive, conservation efforts will be needed. Protecting these species will take everyone working together. From protecting the rainforest and other natural habitats to using environmentally friendly materials, as well as laws protecting wildlife, there are many different things that can be done to make sure these species do not go extinct.