Panthera uncia, the snow leopard, is a solitary and elusive big cat adapted to cold mountainous regions, with thick fur, powerful limbs, and a long tail that aids in balance. Its genome reveals adaptations to high-altitude environments, such as genes related to oxygen transport and energy metabolism, as well as evolutionary links to other big…
Kingdom: Animalia
Mexican Wolf
Canis lupus baileyi, the Mexican gray wolf, is the smallest subspecies of the gray wolf, known for its mottled coat, social pack behavior, and role as a top predator in its ecosystem. Its genome reveals low genetic diversity due to a severe population bottleneck, but also contains unique adaptations that reflect its historical range and…
Lowland anoa
Bubalus depressicornis, the lowland anoa, is a wild dwarf buffalo endemic to Indonesia. Its genome provides evolutionary data on wild species of the genus Bubalus, as well as information on the similarities and differences between them and domestic species. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkac234 September/16/2022 Authors: Rubén Lorenzo Martínez, Luna Lozano Sanchez, Carla Martin Rodriguez, Lara Martínez De la…
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…
Cozumel Harvest Mouse
Cozumel Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys spectabilis) is assessed as Critically Endangered because this species is known only from Cozumel Island, Mexico where it is estimated to exist in small subpopulations (< 50 individuals/subpopulation) with an estimate of less than 200 individuals in the entire population. The species has not recovered from negative impacts from introduced species…
Ridgway’s Hawk
Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is listed as Critically Endangered because it has a small and fragmented population, which was previously in steep decline. Successful conservation action has now reversed such declines and the species is observed to be increasing throughout both its largest extant population in Los Haitises National Park and additional reintroduced populations. If…
Jico Deer Mouse
Jico Deer Mouse (Habromys simulatus) is listed as Critically Endangered because it is known from only two subpopulations: one is likely now extinct, and the other has extremely low population numbers (less than or equal to 50). Most of the mature individuals from are in one subpopulation. If more habitat continues to disappear, this species…
Galapagos Penguin
Long-term monitoring of the Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) indicates that the population is fluctuating, primarily as a result of marine perturbations that may be becoming more extreme through climate change. These perturbations have caused an overall very rapid population reduction over the last three generations (31 years). In addition, the species has a small population…
Worthen’s Sparrow
Worthen’s Sparrow (Spizella wortheni) has a very small and declining population, and fledging success is very low. It is therefore listed as Endangered. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22721182/118141491
Wattled Curassow
Wattled Curassow (Crax globulosa) was once widespread across the Amazon basin. High hunting pressure has been causing drastic declines, so that the population is now very small and restricted to scattered, isolated subpopulations. These declines are ongoing and it is therefore listed as Endangered. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22678537/221386350