Many animals are threatened with extinction. The IUCN analyzed over 10,000 species of reptiles last year and found that over 20% of reptiles face the possibility of extinction.1 About 1,000 people worked on this study.2 They found that reptiles that are found in forest habitats are more at risk than others.1 Some of the species that are at risk include:
- Gharials – critically endangered2
- King Cobras – vulnerable1
- Crocodiles (11 species) – threatened2
The biggest threats to reptiles include:2
- Deforestation
- Human development
- Agriculture
- Invasive species
- Hunting
Reptiles have been around for a very long time, and if a species goes extinct, we end up losing the chance to study the history of their evolution and adaptation.2 The benefit of this research is that it allows scientists to figure out how best to help these reptiles and prevent them from going extinct. The great thing about this is that when plans are put into place to conserve a species, those efforts usually help out other species that live in that habitat, too.1
Resources to Get the Most Out of Your Dissection Experience
Whether it’s your first time introducing pellet dissection to your classroom or you’ve done it plenty of times before, we have an entire page of resources for you to help you get the most out of your lesson! Find:
- Helpful tips
- E-guides
- Videos
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