The red-crested tree rat is a small rodent recognisable by its bright red-orange markings. It lives only in a very small area near the north coast of Colombia. This species is in critical condition—there are between only 1 and 50 red-crested tree rats remaining. While specific threats to the species are unknown, its habitat has been degraded over time by the expansion of housing, agriculture, livestock farming, and drought.
Though it was thought to be extinct as it hadn’t been seen since 1989, the red-crested tree rat was rediscovered in 2011.
15. Southern eyelash boas
The southern eyelash boa, also called the Ecuadorian eyelash boa, is a possibly extinct nonvenomous snake species native to Ecuador. There are fewer than 50 of these snakes remaining, and there is almost no suitable habitat remaining, as savannah areas have been converted (and continue to be converted) for agricultural use. Little is known about the southern eyelash boa, but it is closely related to the more common northern eyelash boa. It has small, eyelash-like scales around its eyes, which is how it got its name.
16. Harlequin frogs
Classed within the toad family, harlequin frogs or toads are the members of the genus Atelopus, which contains nearly one hundred different living species. These toads are generally small, brightly coloured, and diurnal. A staggering 62 of these species are critically endangered. The deadly amphibian chytrid fungus also impacts these amphibians, as does habitat loss due to human activities.
However, there is hope. One species thought to be extinct, the Azuay stubfoot toad, was recently rediscovered, and the toads these scientists found did not show signs of the fungus.
Want to help protect these endangered species? Learn more about IFAW’s landscape conservation work around the world and how we fight wildlife crime in Latin America.
Source link : https://www.ifaw.org/international/journal/16-most-endangered-animals-south-america
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Publish date : 2024-01-04 03:00:00
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