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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/09/species-ingenious-survival-strategies-no-match-human-destruction-red-list>
"Life has colonised every corner of the planet by evolving ingenious survival
strategies but these are increasingly being overwhelmed by destructive human
activities, this year’s red list of endangered species has revealed.
Many snails, limpets and clams have adapted to life at crushing depths in the
oceans on hydrothermal vents where water temperatures can reach 450C (842F).
But an assessment for the red list found that two-thirds of the hundreds of
mollusc species found only on deep sea vents were at risk of extinction because
of deep-sea mining.
Mining for diamonds has put another extraordinary creature at risk of
disappearing – the desert rain frog. Most frogs rely on water for survival but
the bulbous desert rain frog has evolved to need almost none. It hides from the
southern African sun by burying itself deep in the sand, coming out only at
night to hunt insects.
However, dwindling species can be saved, the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which produces the red list, said. The new list
shows the numbat, a stripy, termite-eating marsupial from Australia, has come
back from the brink thanks to protection from feral cats and foxes.
“Life on Earth has adapted to survive in the most hostile and unusual habitats
[but] as pressures on biodiversity mount across the planet, even the creatures
with the most ingenious survival strategies are under threat,” said Dr Grethel
Aguilar, the IUCN director general. “But there is a clear path out of the
biodiversity crisis: nature conservation works. By protecting the astounding
range of biodiversity on this planet, we can preserve a welcoming environment
for humans and wildlife alike.”"
Via Susan ****
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
