Species under threat

Land mammals The first comprehensive inventory of land mammals in 1996 found a quarter, including the Iberian lynx, were in danger of extinction. The situation has worsened since. Reptiles & amphibians The Chinese alligator is the most endangered crocodilian–a survey in 1999 found just 150. Frogs, toads, newts and salamanders are the most threatened land vertebrates. Birds One in five species are believed to be in danger of extinction; that amounts to about 2,000 of the 9,775 named species. Most are at risk from logging, intensive agriculture, trapping and habitat encroachment. Many experts believe the Philippine eagle and wandering albatross could become extinct this century. Marine life The oceans were thought to be immune from the activities of man on land, but this is no longer true. Pollution, overfishing, loss of marine habitats and global warming have a dramatic impact on biological diversity. More than 100 species of fish, including the basking shark, are on the red list of threatened species. Plants Many plants have yet to be formally described, classified and named–and some are being lost before they have been discovered by scientists. Plants of every type are being lost. Insects & invertebrates Many insects are wiped out by pesticide-reliant intensive agriculture. Others, such as the partula tree snails of Tahiti, are menaced by invasive species.