Autumnal Dress to Impress- Endangered December

[Chernabog]

Had to get on the roomie's computer to show the desktop version because the snoot is tooooo lonnnnng to be appreciated on mobile lol

This critter is known as the Gharial, also known as a Gavial or fish-eating crocodile. Because of their thin, delicate snout - at first glance they are often mistaken as more 'petite' than some of their relatives. However, they are actually known to be one of the longest of the crocodilian family, males easily reaching close to 20 feet long.

Unfortunately, Gharials are considered to be the most critically endangered crocodilians on the planet and are dangerously close to extinction. It is thought that the entire world's population of this reptiles has gone down by 98% since the 1940's. There are now thought to be fewer than 250 adult individuals remaining in the wild.

Scientists have urged that if we as humankind do not continue up our attempts to protect this species from further habitat loss and hunting, as well as help fund breeding programs to save their kind, Gharials will likely be completely extinct within the next 40-50 years.









[art by Veronica Steiner]

 

[MaliceInWonderland]

This absolute cutie patootie was chosen because they live somewhat near where I used to live in TX. The Barton Springs Salamander lives in one singular small springs system in the Austin area of TX and that's it. They don't live anywhere else. And of course city construction and use of chemicals has endangered their habitats. If curious, please check out:
Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum)

There are also multiple unique salamanders, multiple threatened, in the central TX area:
Central Texas Salamanders​

 

[pilot]