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https://theconversation.com/new-data-reveals-how-australias-threatened-reptiles-and-frogs-are-disappearing-and-what-we-have-to-do-270253>
"Australia is home to extraordinary reptiles and frogs, from giant lace
monitors to tiny alpine froglets. Over 1,100 reptiles and 250 frog species are
found across the Australian continent and islands. But we are losing them.
So far, one of Australia’s reptiles has become extinct, the delicate Christmas
Island forest skink. And seven frogs are thought to be lost forever, including
the only two species of gastric brooding frog – famous for their ability to
brood their young in the female’s stomach.
We wanted to know how are other frogs and reptiles were faring. So, for the
first time, we asked frog and reptile experts to contribute to the
Threatened
Species Index (TSX). This index uses robust and reliable data to measure
changes in the relative abundance of Australia’s threatened and near-threatened
species.
In all, we compiled data for 28 species of frogs and 24 species of reptiles.
Unfortunately, the results were sobering. The first national monitoring dataset
reveals their numbers have declined by 96% on average since 1985."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
