IUCN UPDATED LIST (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The IUCN has issued a stark warning about the dangers of invasive species and illegal trade to various reptiles and cacti, updating its Red List to highlight island reptiles threatened by introduced snakes.

IUCN Updated List

• Ibiza Wall Lizard Reclassification: It has been reclassified as endangered from near threatened due to a 50 per cent population decline since 2010.

oFound: Mallorca, in Barcelona and Northern Spain.

• Cause of Decline: This decline is attributed to the invasive horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis), which is occupying its territory.
• Gran Canaria Species: Similarly, the Gran Canaria giant lizard (Gallotia stehlini) and Gran Canaria skink (Chalcides sexlineatus) face extinction threats.

oThe status of the Gran Canaria giant lizard has been changed from least concern to endangered.

oThe status of the Gran Canaria skink has been updated from least concern to endangered.

oFound: Gran Canaria, Spain

• Invasive Predator: These species are threatened by the California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae), introduced in 1998.
• Population Declines: Both species have seen population declines exceeding 50% since 2014.
• Copiapoa Cacti: Endemic to Chile’s Atacama desert, 82% of Copiapoa cacti species are now critically endangered, a significant increase from 55% in 2013.