IUCN releases list of animals that went extinct in 2020

 

By Nneka Nwogwugwu

The Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world has not only affected human lives but has led to full-blown extinctions in the animal world.

Environmental experts have long been warning that we are entering a sixth ‘extinction event’ – and the realities of those fears have become ever clearer in 2020, with countless types of animals now considered extinct.

A latest report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCNhas revealed that more than a quarter of the species it has on its Red List are now ‘threatened with extinction’ – some 35,765 out of 128,918 species.

It comes as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) warned that animal populations have declined by an average of almost 70% in less than 50 years, as eco-systems break down and animals struggle to cope in a rapidly changing world.

Climate change, human actions, a loss of habitat and other factors have combined to leave many animals facing a bleak future – and some facing none at all.

Here, we take a look at five species that have been officially labelled extinct in 2020.

1.Splendid poison frog:

 This wonderfully-named creature is one of three Central American frog species to have been newly declared extinct. The tiny red animal, from Panama, was highly sought after for the pet trade, and the IUCN has admitted it does not know if the animal could still be alive in a private collection. 

Elsewhere, 22 frog species across Central and South America were listed as critically endangered. The main driver of the declines is said to be a disease called chytridiomycosis.

2.Smooth Handfish: 

Greenpeace highlight how this species, which lived on the sea floor, is the first marine species to be declared extinct in ‘modern times’.

 Remarkably, the animal was last seen in 1802 and, despite extensive searches, has not been found since.

That highlights how difficult it is to officially declare a species ‘extinct’ and suggests many other types of fish may well never be seen again, despite not yet falling into the same category. Will McCallum, Head of Oceans at the environmental pressure group, explained: ‘The smooth handfish, declared extinct this year, was the first marine species to be declared extinct in modern times, unfortunately showing that even the seafloor is not safe from the extinction crisis.

‘For ocean life to recover and thrive we need to put at least 30% of the oceans off limits to all human activities. It’s vital that the world’s governments also commit to legally binding national biodiversity objectives.’

3. Jalpa false brook salamander:  

The newt-like creature used to be relatively common in Guatemala but has not been recorded for decades. Females used to guard their clutch of eggs in the highlands and only lived in the Jalapa region. 

There are very few pictures available of the little creatures, who have slightly curved tails and various cousins in the false brook subspecies. Since the Jalpa lived in trees and wood, logging and farming activities are believed to have been a major contributor to its decline.

 

4.Spined dwarf mantis: 

This insect lived in shrubland in central Italy and confirmation this year that it is extinct bodes badly for other similar creatures around the world. Only one specimen was ever found, in Tolentino, many decades ago. 

 But the praying mantis has countless sub species and a high number of them are concerning experts at the IUCN. 

The closely-related Canary Dwarf Mantis, found only on La Palma in the Canary Islands, is in decline and endangered. There is better news, however, for the Giant Asian Mantis, which is now increasing in number and in the category of least concern.

 

5.Bonin pipistrelle bat:

 Like the handfish, this animal is also likely to have actually died out years ago.   Only one specimen has ever been found but it was only officially classed as extinct in this year’s Red List.  

London’s Natural History Museum has that specimen – though it is not on display to the public because of its scientific importance.