The Mary River turtle’s punk-like green mohawk might seem like a rebellious fashion choice, but that’s just green algae.
It’s an oddly fascinating creature to look at, but it’s more importantly been added to a list of the world’s most vulnerable rept…
Category: Threatened Species
Meet the animals that probably went extinct in 2017
At the end of each year, wildlife ecologist David Steen compiles a list of critters that have likely gone extinct. The 2017 list includes a bat, cat, and multiple lizards, although other creatures may be gone for good — we just don’t know it yet.
Steen, an ecologist at Auburn University, started the annual extinction list in 2012 to establish a clear, reliable source for the planet’s extinctions. Educating the public about the loss of species, in his view, is as important as it is dispiriting.
“It is depressing, frankly, to think about all the creatures we will never see again but I think it is important for us to perceive extinction as a loss of actual species and not just numbers and rates,” Steen said via email. Read more…
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