New Conservation Strategy , Aims at Saving , Evolutionarily Distinct Species.
'Wired' reports that some conservationists say
saving species that are both evolutionarily distinct,
as well as endangered, should take priority.
Rikki Gumbs, a conservationist at the Zoological Society
of London, says efforts should be aimed at saving a number
of strange and wonderful species, like solenodon. .
Rikki Gumbs, a conservationist at the Zoological Society
of London, says efforts should be aimed at saving a number
of strange and wonderful species, like solenodon. .
These shrew-like creatures
are one of the only venomous
mammals alive today. .
About 76 million years ago
the two living solenodon species
diverged from their fellow mammals. .
In 2007, conservationists created a new
metric called EDGE, which stands for, “evolutionarily distinct
and globally endangered.”.
The term was developed as a means
of prioritizing species that represent
a broad span of evolutionary history. .
Species with high EDGE scores all are
evolutionarily distinct, have few living
ancestors and are extremely endangered.
One of these species is the Madagascar blind snake,
a burrowing reptile that split from its closest
living relative about 65 million years ago. .
There are a lot of species out there
that are overlooked, and when you get
to know them they are just as
charismatic and beautiful
as the ones we’re aware of. , Rikki Gumbs, Conservationist at
the Zoological Society of London, via 'Wired'.
On February 28, 2023, the new
measure, called EDGE2, was published
in the journal 'PLOS Biology.'