Red List of Threatened Species. a Global Species Assessment
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IUCN – The World Conservation Union brings together States, government agencies and Species™ 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened The IUCN Species Survival Commission a diverse range of non-governmental organizations in a unique global partnership – over 1,000 members in some 140 countries. As a Union, IUCN seeks to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. IUCN builds on the strengths of its members, networks, and partners to build global 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ alliances which safeguard natural resources at local, regional and global levels. Web: www.iucn.org A Global Species The Species Survival Commission (SSC), created in 1949, is the largest of IUCN’s six volunteer commissions. With 8,000 scientists, field researchers, government officials and conservation leaders worldwide, the SSC membership is an unmatched source of Assessment information about biodiversity conservation. SSC members provide technical and scientific advice to conservation activities throughout the world and to governments, international conventions and conservation organizations. They provide the best available A Global Species Assessment information critical to the development of conservation products and tools such as the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. SSC works primarily through its 120 Specialist Groups, which focus on a wide range of plants and animals, or on issues such as invasive species and sustainable use of wildlife. Web: www.iucn.org/themes/ssc IUCN Publications Services Unit 219c Huntingdon Road Cambridge, CB3 0DL, UK Tel: + 44 1223 277894 Fax: + 44 1223 277175 E-mail: [email protected] www.iucn.org/bookstore The IUCN Species Programme Rue Mauverney 28 CH-1196 Gland Switzerland Edited by Tel: + 41 22 999 0000 Jonathan E.M. Baillie, Craig Hilton-Taylor and Simon N. Stuart Fax: + 41 22 999 0015 E-mail: [email protected] www.iucn.org/themes/ssc 2 3 This publication is an analysis of all the species (and their supporting documentation) listed in the 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. The full list of species in the IUCN Red List is available as an on-line searchable database accessible via the World Wide 1 Web at: http://www.iucnredlist.org 6 For further information about the IUCN/SSC Red List Programme contact: 4 IUCN Red List Programme Office 5 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK Tel: +44 1223 277966, Fax: +44 1223 277845 Front cover photographs E-mail: [email protected] 1 Amphibians are one of nature’s best indicators of overall environmental health, and their precipitous decline serves as a warning that we are in a period of significant environmental degradation. For example, the decline of the harlequin toad Atelopus varius (Critically Endangered) in Costa Rica and Panama has been dramatic. It has disappeared from suitable habitats, and the cause of its decline is possibly a result of the fungal disease, chytridiomycosis, the incidence of which could be related to extreme climatic events, in particular drought. Photo: © Robert Puschendorf. 2 Plants are the basis for life on Earth as we know it, giving us a breathable atmosphere, making food from sunlight, and providing structure for homes and habitats. But many of the world’s plants are under threat. The Cucumber Tree Dendrosicyos socotrana (Vulnerable) is an unusual threatened endemic from the island archipelago of Soqotra, Yemen. Photo: © Anthony G. Miller. 3 The molluscs top the list of animals with the greatest numbers of recorded extinctions. These small creatures are vulnerable to extinction as they often have extremely limited ranges, move very short distances during their life and are hence sensitive to any disturbances. An example of a restricted range species is the Dlinza Forest Pinwheel Trachycystis clifdeni (Critically Endangered) confined to a small forest patch in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Photo: © Dai G. Herbert. 4 There is a widespread perception that marine species are more resilient to extinction. However, there is a growing body of scientific evidence that shows that marine species are just as, if not even more, vulnerable to extinction as terrestrial and freshwater species. The Nassau Grouper Epinephelus striatus (Endangered) found widely across the Caribbean, is fished commercially and recreationally. Its population has declined by approximately 60% over the last 30 years. Photo: © John E. Randall. 5 The number of threatened birds on the Red List continues to rise. The honeycreeper (Drepanididae) family endemic to Hawaii, USA, is particularly at risk with 13 of the 34 known species listed as Extinct and 18 as threatened, as a result of the impacts of invasive alien species. The Palila Loxioides bailleui (Endangered) is one of these threatened honeycreepers. Photo: © Jack Jeffrey Photography. 6 The current status of the world’s mammal species is undergoing review through the Global Mammal Assessment For photo captions, see the inside of the back cover. project. Many new mammal species have been described in recent years that now require assessment. These include new species of lemur from Madagascar. Of the 33 lemurs assessed, 20 are listed as threatened, including Verreaux’s Sifaka Lemur Propithecus verreauxi (Vulnerable), due to habitat loss and hunting. Photo: © Troy Inman. The IUCN Species Survival Commission 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ A Global Species Assessment Edited by Jonathan E.M. Baillie, Craig Hilton-Taylor and Simon N. Stuart The IUCN Species Survival Commission 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ A Global Species Assessment Edited by Jonathan E.M. Baillie, Craig Hilton-Taylor and Simon N. Stuart Authors Jonathan E.M. Baillie, Leon A. Bennun, Thomas M. Brooks, Stuart H.M. Butchart, Janice S. Chanson, Zoe Cokeliss, Craig Hilton-Taylor, Michael Hoffmann, Georgina M. Mace, Sue A. Mainka, Caroline M. Pollock, Ana S.L. Rodrigues, Alison J. Stattersfield and Simon N. Stuart Foreword by Hamdallah Zedan Preface by David Brackett IUCN – The World Conservation Union 2004 The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN, the IUCN Species Survival Commission, BirdLife International, Conservation International, the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science at Conservation International and NatureServe concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN or other participating organizations. This publication has been made possible by funding from the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs (DgCiD – Direction générale de la Coopération internationale et du Développement) and the Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Copyright: © 2004 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Baillie, J.E.M., Hilton-Taylor, C. and Stuart, S.N. (Editors) 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. A Global Species Assessment. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. xxiv + 191 pp. ISBN: 2-8317-0826-5 Cover design: McHale Ward Associates, Ware, UK Cover photos: © Robert Puschendorf, Anthony G. Miller, Dai G. Herbert, John E. Randall, Jack Jeffrey Photography and Troy Inman (see inside back cover for details). Layout by: McHale Ward Associates, Ware, UK Produced by: IUCN Publications Services Unit, Cambridge, UK Printed by: Thanet Press Limited, Margate, UK Available from: IUCN Publications Services Unit 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK Tel: +44 1223 277894, Fax: +44 1223 277175 E-mail: [email protected] www.iucn.org/bookstore A catalogue of IUCN publications is also available The text of this book is printed on Fineblade Smooth 115gsm made from low-chlorine pulp To Brian Groombridge in recognition of his major contribution to the IUCN Red List, and to the broader field of biodiversity assessment v Contributions to the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ The IUCN Species Survival Commission gratefully recognizes its extensive NatureServe is a non-profit conservation organization that plays an active network of volunteers who make production of the IUCN Red List possible. role in the Red List Consortium, in particular by helping to coordinate the Those individuals who have contributed time and expertise are listed in the Global Amphibian Assessment in the western hemisphere. NatureServe Acknowledgements. SSC also wishes to acknowledge those donors whose serves as the secretariat for the network of natural heritage programmes and major financial contributions support a wide variety of SSC activities, as well conservation data centres that now include 76 independent biodiversity as development and production of the IUCN Red List. inventory programmes operating throughout the Americas. NatureServe and its member programmes have been assessing the condition and distribution The French Ministry for