40 World's Most Endangered Reptiles - Causes and Conservation

2024 Author: Carl Johnson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-08 06:01

Reptiles are tetrapod vertebrates that have existed for 300 million years and whose most striking feature is the presence of scales that cover their entire body. They are distributed around the world, except for very cold places, where we will not find them. In addition, they are adapted to live both on land and in water, since there are aquatic reptiles.

Within this group we will find lizards, chameleons, iguanas, snakes and amphibians (Squamata), turtles (Testudine), crocodiles, alligators, gharials and alligators (Crocodylia). All of them have different ecological requirements according to their lifestyle and where they live, many species being very sensitive to environmental changes. For this reason, today a large number of reptiles are in danger of extinction and some could be on the verge of disappearing if conservation measures are not taken in time. If you want to know the reptiles in greatest danger of extinction in the world, as well as the measures that are being taken for their conservation, continue reading this article on our site and we'll tell you all about them.

Gharial of the Ganges (Gavialis gangeticus)

This species is in the order Crocodilia and is native to northern India, where it inhabits swampy areas. Males can reach about 5 meters in length, while females used to be a little smaller and measure about 3 meters. They have a long and thin snout with a rounded tip, whose shape is due to their diet, which is based on fish, since they cannot consume very large or strong prey.

The Ganges gharial is critically endangered and currently very few individuals exist, being on the brink of extinction during the 20th century due to destruction of their habitat and illegal hunting and anthropogenic activities linked to agriculture. It is estimated that there are about 1,000 individuals left, many of them non-breeders. Despite being protected, this species continues to suffer and its populations decline.

World's most endangered reptile - Ganges Gavial (Gavialis gangeticus)

Grenadine Gecko (Gonatodes daudini)

This species belongs to the order Squamata and is endemic to the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where it inhabits dry forests in areas with rocky outcrops. It measures about 3 cm in length and is a critically endangered species mainly due to the hunting and illegal trade of pets, what's more. As its territory is very restricted, the loss and destruction of its environments also make it a very sensitive and vulnerable species. On the other hand, the lack of control over domestic animals, such as cats, also affects the Grenadine gecko. Although its distribution area is under conservation, this species is not included within international laws that protect it.

Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)

Of the order Testudines, the radiated tortoise is endemic to Madagascar and currently also inhabits the islands of La Réunion and Mauritius because it was introduced by humans. It can be seen in forests with thorny and dry bushes. This species reaches about 40 cm in length and is very characteristic for its tall shell with yellow lines that give it the name "radiated" due to its arrangement.

Currently, this is another of the reptiles in critical danger of extinction due to illegal hunting for sale as a pet and for their meat and the destruction of their habitat, which has led to an alarming decline in their populations. Because of this, it is protected and there are conservation programs for its breeding in captivity.

World's Most Endangered Reptiles - Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)

hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Like the previous species, the hawksbill turtle belongs to the order Testudines and is divided into two subspecies (E. imbricata imbricata and E. imbricata bissa) that are distributed in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans, respectively. It is a highly endangered species of sea turtle, as it is highly sought after for its meat, especially in China and Japan, and for the illegal trade. In addition, the capture to extract its shell is a practice that has been widespread for decades, although it is currently penalized by various laws in different countries. Other factors that put this species at risk are human activities in areas where it nests, as well as attacks by other animals on the nests.

World's most endangered reptiles - Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Pygmy chameleon (Rhampholeon acuminatus)

Belonging to the order Squamata, this is a chameleon that is found within the so-called pygmy chameleons. Distributed throughout eastern Africa, it occupies scrub and forest environments, where it perches on the branches of low bushes. It is a tiny chameleon that reaches about 5 cm in length, which is why it is called a pygmy.

It is listed as critically endangered and the main cause is hunting and illegal trade to sell it as a pet. Furthermore, their populations, already extremely small, are threatened by changes to their habitat for farmland. For this reason, the pygmy chameleon is protected thanks to the conservation of natural areas, especially in Tanzania.

World's most endangered reptile - Pygmy Chameleon (Rhampholeon acuminatus)

Saint Lucia Boa (Boa constrictor orophias)

This species of the order Squamata is an insular boa endemic to Santa Lucía Island in the Caribbean Sea and is also part of the list of most endangered reptiles in the world. It lives in humid lands, but not near water, and can be seen both in savannahs and cultivated areas, in trees and on the ground and can reach about 5 meters in length.

This species is in danger of extinction due to illegal trade, since it is captured for its skin, which has very striking designs and characteristics and is used in the leather goods industry. On the other hand, another threat is the conversion of the lands where they live for cultivation areas. Today it is protected and illegal hunting and trade are punishable by law.

World's Most Endangered Reptiles - Saint Lucian Boa (Boa constrictor orophias)

Giant Gecko (Tarentola gigas)

This species of gecko or gecko belongs to the Squamata order and is endemic to Cape Verde, where it inhabits the Razo and Bravo islets. It has almost 30 cm in length and a color of brown tones typical of geckos. In addition, their diet is very peculiar, since it depends on the presence of seabirds when feeding on their pellets (balls with remains of undigested organic material, such as bone, hair and nails) and it is common for them to occupy the same places where they nest..

Currently, it is categorized as endangered and its main threat is the presence of cats, which was the reason why almost they become extinct However, the islets where the giant gecko is still present today are protected by law and are natural areas.

Tree Dragon (Abronia aurita)

This reptile, also of the order Squamata, is endemic to Guatemala, where it lives in the highlands of Verapaz. It measures about 13 cm in length and its color varies, presenting green, yellow and turquoise tones, with spots on the sides of its head, which is quite prominent, making it a very striking lizard.

It is classified as endangered mainly due to the destruction of its natural habitat, especially due to the extraction of wood. In addition, agriculture, fire and grazing are also factors that threaten the little tree dragon.

World's Most Endangered Reptiles - Tree Dragon (Abronia aurita)

Pygmy Anole (Anolis pygmaeus)

Belonging to the Squamata order, this species is endemic to Mexico, specifically to Chiapas. Although not much is known about its biology and ecology, it is known to inhabit evergreen forests. It has a color between gray and brown and its size is small, since it measures about 4 cm in length, but stylized and with long fingers, characteristic of this genus of lizards.

This anole is another of the reptiles in danger of extinction due to the a transformation of the environments where it lives. It is protected by law under the category of “special protection (Pr)” in Mexico.

Tancitaro Moray Rattlesnake (Crotalus pusillus)

Also belonging to the order Squamata, this snake is endemic to Mexico and lives in volcanic areas and pine and oak forests. It is medium-sized, about 60 cm long, the females being somewhat smaller.

Endangered due to its very restricted distribution range and destruction of their habitat due to logging and conversion of land to crops. Although there are not many studies on this species, considering its small distribution area, it is protected in Mexico under the category of threatened.

Most endangered reptiles in the world - Tancítaro Moray Rattlesnake (Crotalus pusillus)

Why are reptiles in danger of extinction?

Reptiles face various threats around the world and, because many of them are slow-growing and very long-lived, they are very sensitive to changes in their environment. The main causes of the decline in their populations are:

Habitat destruction for land used for agriculture and livestock.
Climate change that produces environmental changes in temperature levels and other factors.
Hunting to obtain materials such as skins, teeth, claws, shells and illegal trade as pets.
Pollution, both from the seas and from the land, is another of the most serious threats facing reptiles.
Reduction of their land due to the construction of buildings and urbanizations.
Introduction of exotic species, which causes an ecological imbalance that many species of reptiles are unable to tolerate and the decline in their populations.
Deaths due to running over and other causes. For example, many species of snakes are killed because they are considered poisonous and out of fear, so at this point environmental education becomes a priority and urgent.

How to prevent them from disappearing?

In this scenario where thousands of species of reptiles are in danger of extinction throughout the world, there are various ways to conserve them, so by taking the measures that we will detail below we can help the recovery of many of these species:

Identification and creation of protected natural areas where threatened reptile species are known to inhabit.
Keep rocks and fallen logs in environments where reptiles live, as these are potential refuges for them.
Manage exotic animal species that prey on or displace native reptiles.
Disseminate and educate about threatened reptile species, since the success of many conservation programs is due to raising awareness among people.
Avoid and control the use of pesticides on land used for agriculture.
Promote the knowledge and care of these animals, especially about the most feared species such as snakes, which are often killed by fear and ignorance when thinking that it is a poisonous species.
Do not promote the illegal sale of reptile species, such as iguanas, snakes or turtles, as these are the most commonly used species as pets and must live freely and in their natural environments.

For more details, don't miss this article: "How to protect endangered animals?".

Other endangered reptiles

The above are not the only reptiles in greatest danger of extinction, so, below, we present a list with more threatened reptiles and their classification according to the Red Listfrom the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):