The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released its annual red list of endangered species, highlighting how even creatures with remarkable adaptations are succumbing to human activities. Two-thirds of mollusc species found only on deep-sea hydrothermal vents are at risk of extinction due to deep-sea mining, while the desert rain frog faces threats from diamond mining and the exotic pet trade. However, the numbat, a striped marsupial from Australia, has shown recovery thanks to conservation efforts.
Deep-Sea Vent Molluscs: Adapted to Extreme Conditions
Over 200 species of molluscs, including snails, limpets, and clams, live exclusively on hydrothermal vents where water temperatures can reach 450°C (842°F). Many of these species have only been discovered in the last decade but are now threatened by deep-sea mining. The exploration and extraction of minerals from the seabed produce sediments that smother these animals. For example, the snail Lirapex felix is now classified as critically endangered due to mining activity in the Indian Ocean.
However, more than 30 vent species are not in danger because they inhabit marine protected areas where mining is prohibited. These include the ornate snail Provanna exquisita, which lives exclusively in the Mariana Arc of Fire National Wildlife Refuge in the Pacific Ocean.
Desert Rain Frog: Ingenious but Vulnerable
The desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops) has evolved to survive with minimal water, burying itself deep in the sand along the west coast of South Africa and Namibia. It emerges only at night to hunt insects. Despite these adaptations, the species is now classified as vulnerable due to diamond mining and energy infrastructure expansion. Additionally, a viral video of the frog squeaking has increased demand for it in the exotic pet trade.
Numbat Recovery: A Conservation Success
The numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus), a termite-eating marsupial, has moved from endangered to near threatened on the red list. Its population has rebounded from a low of 300 individuals in the late 1970s to between 2,000 and 3,000 today. This recovery is attributed to decades of conservation work, including baiting and predator-proof fencing to protect against feral cats and red foxes, captive breeding at Perth Zoo, and translocations from healthy populations. At least five new self-sustaining numbat populations have been established, though the species now occupies only 0.04% of its original range across southern Australia.
Australian Extinctions and Ongoing Threats
The red list confirms the extinction of five more Australian marsupials: the crest-tailed, southern, northern, and little mulgaras, and the little bettong. These species have not been sighted for at least 60 years and are believed to have fallen prey to feral cats and foxes. Australia has recorded over 40 modern mammal extinctions.
IUCN Director General: Conservation Works
Dr. Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, stated: “Life on Earth has adapted to survive in the most hostile and unusual habitats [but] as pressures on biodiversity mount across the planet, even the creatures with the most ingenious survival strategies are under threat. But there is a clear path out of the biodiversity crisis: nature conservation works. By protecting the astounding range of biodiversity on this planet, we can preserve a welcoming environment for humans and wildlife alike.”
Professor John Woinarski, co-chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission group on Australasian marsupials and monotremes, emphasized the importance of continued management: “The [numbat] assessment shows that long-term conservation effort works; without it, invasive cats and foxes will continue to drive Australia’s small marsupials and native rodents to extinction. Continued management is vital not only to maintain the numbat’s unique evolutionary line as the last surviving member of the Myrmecobiidae family, but also to support its role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, as digging for the termites it eats increases rain penetration into the soil, helping protect woodlands.”
Global Red List Statistics
The IUCN red list now includes 175,909 species, of which 49,505 are threatened with extinction. However, many species have yet to be formally assessed. The IUCN voted for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in 2021, and the International Seabed Authority is meeting in Jamaica this month to discuss regulations.
