Aldabrachelys gigantea, the Aldabra giant tortoise, is one of the longest-lived terrestrial vertebrates, with lifespans over 150 years. It can survive months without food or water by storing nutrients and slowing its metabolism. Its genome offers insights into longevity, gigantism, and resilience in extreme conditions. DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac090 Author: Abril Navarro (Institut Pompeu Fabra)
Class: Reptilia
Roatán Spiny-tailed Iguana
Roatán Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura oedirhina) has an extent of occurrence of 294 km2 measured by minimum convex polygon. Its area of occupancy is 191 km2 using a 1×1 km grid overlay, although the actual occupied area of stable populations is likely closer to 6 km2. The population is severely fragmented across Roatán, with the majority…
Saint Lucian Whiptail
Saint Lucian Whiptail (Cnemidophorus vanzoi) is listed as Critically Endangered on the basis that this species effectively represents a single, severely fragmented population, and is at continual risk from the possible introduction of invasive mammals to any or all of the four small islands where the species presently survives, which would lead to a projected…
Cuban Crocodile
Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) is endemic to Cuba. The species is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR A2cde), keeping the same status as in the previous assessment (2008). Population decline is still estimated at >80% over the last three generations (approximately 75 years). This reduction in population size is based on the decline in habitat extent…
Anegada Rock Iguana
Although it is believed the Anegada Rock Iguana (Cyclura pinguis) population size has increased somewhat since the headstarting programme began releasing subadults, the habitat is continuing to be degraded. The significant population reduction (> 80%) for this species occurred over a much longer time period than three generations (66 years) ago due to the introduction…
Mojave Desert Tortoise
Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) was assessed as Critically Endangered A2bce+A4bce based on population reduction (decreasing density), habitat loss of over 80% over three generations (90 years), including past reductions and predicted future declines, as well as the effects of disease (upper respiratory tract disease / mycoplasmosis). Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/97246272/3150871
Loggerhead Turtle
The global population of the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) comprises 10 subpopulations that vary widely in population size, geographic range, and population trends, and are the appropriate units for assessment of global conservation status for this species (Wallace et al. 2010, 2011). As such, assessments have been completed for each of the 10 subpopulations, in…
Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) is considered Vulnerable because it is documented as rare with a total population estimated to be less than 10,000, it has a fairly small area of occurrence, and no subpopulation is estimated to contain more than 1,000 individuals; there is an ongoing decline in the number of individuals, due to…