What is the study of Saurology?

What do extinct reptiles study?

Extinct reptiles are of great scientific and popular interest and include dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and ichthyosaurs. Some scientists are both herpetologists and ecologists. They study habitat, food, population movements, reproductive strategies, life expectancy, causes of death, and myriad other ecological problems.

Which Reptiles need the most help from conservationists?

With the new global assessment of reptiles, conservationists have a clearer picture of which species need the most help. The iconic King Cobra, for instance, surprised researchers. It’s currently ranked as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Why has there been a dearth of data on reptiles?

Why has there been a dearth of data for reptiles in particular? They just haven’t gotten the same sort of sympathy from funders as their fluffier counterparts, say authors of the new paper published today in the journal Nature.

Do conservation efforts help or hurt reptiles?

Study authors say that many of the risks that reptiles face are similar to those faced by those other animal groups and suggest that conservation efforts to protect these groups – including habitat restoration and controlling invasive species – may have also benefited reptiles.

How many reptiles are in danger of extinction?

Reptiles are in trouble: In fact, over 21% of reptile species are threatened with extinction worldwide, according to a new, first-of-its-kind global assessment of more than 10,000 species.

Which reptile species are most likely to go extinct?

(CNN) One-fifth of all reptile species face the risk of extinction, according to a comprehensive new study, with crocodiles and turtles most threatened. It’s the first study of its kind for reptiles and involved 961 scientists in 24 countries across six continents and took 15 years to complete.

How many reptiles are on the Red List of Threatened Species?

Over 20,000 species on the Red List of threatened species are considered “data deficient.” That list is put together by the IUCN, which led the newly published research on reptiles alongside environmental organizations NatureServe and Conservation International.

How many reptile species are at risk of extinction?

While this new research has determined that an alarming 21 percent of reptile species – 1,829 individual species-face the risk of extinction, this could very well be an underestimate. With biodiversity generally in decline across the globe, species with outdated assessments are likely in even more dire straits now, the study suggests.

Why are turtles and crocodiles endangered?

Among reptiles, particularly hard hit are turtles, with almost 60 percent of species at risk of extinction, and crocodiles, with half. In addition to habitat loss, both groups are depleted by hunting and fishing.

What animals are in the reptile class?

They include crocodiles, alligators, lizards, snakes, and turtles. The reptile class is one of the largest classes of vertebrates. It consists of all amniotes except birds and mammals.

Can we save threatened reptiles?

Some good news: The research revealed that efforts already underway to conserve threatened mammals, birds and amphibians are more likely than expected to also benefit many threatened reptiles.

Do reptiles live in deserts or forests?

Although many reptiles live in arid environments such as deserts and scrubland, most species occur in forests, where they suffer from threats such as logging and conversion of land for agriculture. The study found 30% of forest-dwelling reptiles are at risk of extinction, compared with 14% in arid habitats.

Are reptiles in danger of extinction?

More than a fifth of the world’s REPTILES face imminent extinction – with some species of crocodile and turtle requiring urgent conservation efforts, study warns Scientists warn more than a fifth of the world’s reptiles face imminent extinction

Why are reptiles endangered?

Ubiquitous toxins , global warming , nonnative predators , overcollection , habitat destruction and disease are key factors leading to their demise. Globally, about 20 percent of evaluated reptiles are threatened with extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.

How do you care for a debilitated reptile?

Visit Exotic ICU: Nursing Care for Reptiles and Basic Husbandry: Hospitalizing Non-Traditional Species for additional information on caging the reptile patient. Only reptiles of adequate and normal bone quality should be offered vertical space for climbing. Debilitated reptiles are often dehydrated.

What is the center doing to protect amphibians and reptiles?

The Center outdid itself in protecting these amazing creatures in 2012, when we made the biggest-ever move to protect amphibians and reptiles in the United States, filing a mega-petition requesting Endangered Species Action protection for 53 amphibians and reptiles in 45 states.

How are logging and farming affecting the world’s reptiles?

The first global analysis of its kind found that logging and farming are taking away reptile habitat at an unsustainable pace, exacerbating a worldwide decline in biodiversity.

How many vertebrates are on the Red List?

As of 2020, about 9,677 vertebrates were on the Red List. Vertebrates include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes. The data include species that are threatened with extinction, animals that are critically endangered with extinction, and endangered animals.

Why is habitat management important for amphibians and reptiles?

The way that habitats are managed therefore has a major influence on the conservation of these species. ARC develops and promotes guidance on managing habitats for amphibians and reptiles, whilst considering broader management objectives.

Are reptiles being pushed to the brink of extinction?

Many reptiles are being pushed to the brink, the researchers said, by factors similarly imperiling the world’s other land vertebrates-amphibians, birds and mammals-namely, deforestation for agriculture, logging and development, urban encroachment and hunting by people.

What is the biggest threat to reptiles?

Habitat loss driven by logging, agriculture and urbanization, and competition with invasive species is the main threat to reptiles. Other factors played a role for some species such as their use in traditional medicine. The climate crisis also poses an uncertain challenge, the study added.

How many reptile species are threatened with extinction?

The researchers applied the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species to 10,196 species of reptile. The team found that 1,829 (21%) of species were threatened with extinction (categorized as being vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered in the IUCN criteria).

Are turtles and crocodiles in danger of extinction?

That includes turtles and crocodiles, which face some of the highest risk of extinction among reptile species and were more likely to have outdated assessments. About 58 percent of turtles and 50 percent of crocodiles were found to be threatened with extinction.

How can we save the reptile species from extinction?

“Now we know the threats facing each reptile species, the global community can take the next step by joining conservation plans with global policy agreement and invest in turning around the often too under-appreciated and severe biodiversity crisis.”

What percentage of reptiles are at risk of extinction?

More than 40 percent of amphibians, 25 percent of mammals and 13 percent of birds could face extinction. But until now, researchers did not have a comprehensive picture of the proportion of reptiles at risk.