Thread by @ClimateBen

Reptiles are in great danger of extinction worldwide.

🔺 20% of known reptile species worldwide are endangered or facing extinction

🔺 20% of lizard species worldwide could go extinct within decades (local extinctions could reach as high as 40%)

scientificamerican.com/article/warmin…

What’s causing the reptiles’ decline?

“While habitat loss is the most obvious cause of endangerment, declines are even occurring in pristine areas from threats such as disease, UV radiation and climate change"

Also overcollecting & unregulated hunting.scientificamerican.com/article/reptil…

'Although the amphibian decline problem is a serious threat, reptiles appear to be in even greater danger of extinction worldwide.'
academic.oup.com/bioscience/art…

'...human impacts are intensifying. Thus, the data suggest that a runaway train of extinction is now likely to produce what would be seen as a global mass extinction on the ultimately more important landscape of geological time.' pnas.org/content/112/42…

Reptiles are a relatively poorly understood, and often maligned, group of animals.

41% of evaluated reptile species were considered Near Threatened, Threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered), or data deficient globally.

usgs.gov/centers/werc/s…

From 2013:

'Out of the 19% of reptiles threatened with extinction, 12% classified as Critically Endangered, 41% Endangered and 47% Vulnerable.'

What is the exact situation now in 2020?

iucn.org/content/almost…

Australian climate chaos wildfires pushing reptiles to brink of extinction:
abc.net.au/news/science/2…