Angelshark

Squatina squatina

The Angelshark is an ambush predator, relying on camouflage to surprise its prey.

Pig-nosed Turtle

Carettochelys insculpta

The pig-nosed turtle is prehistoric. This turtle diverged from all other species more than 140 million years ago.

Chinese Giant Salamander

Andrias davidianus

The largest amphibian in the world, this salamander can grow to the size of an adult human.

Pillar Coral

Dendrogyra cylindrus

Pillar coral possesses one of the most distinct morphologies of any coral.

Pygmy Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus pygmaeus

The smallest of the all the sloth species, the pygmy sloth was only described in 2001

Philippine Eagle

Pithecophaga jefferyi

The Philippine Eagle is one of the world’s largest, most powerful birds of prey.

FOCAL EDGE SPECIES

More about Focal species

Largetooth Sawfish

Pristis pristis

The largetooth sawfish not only is number 1 on the EDGE Shark list, but also has the highest-ranking score of any EDGE species!

Conservation Attention

Good

Pristis pristis - Large Sawtooth Pristis pristis - Large Sawtooth

Chinese Giant Salamander

Andrias davidianus

The Chinese giant salamander is the world’s largest amphibian, growing up to 1.8 metres long, with a large tail comprising almost 60% of the body length.

Conservation Attention

Good

Green Sawfish

Pristis zijsron

The green sawfish is the largest of all existing sawfishes, reaching up to 7.3 meters in length and its teethed rostra accounts for almost one third of that length!

Conservation Attention

Low

Green sawfish, Pristis zijsron Green sawfish, Pristis zijsron

Purple Frog

Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis

The purple frog (or pig-nosed frog) spends much of its life underground, emerging briefly for a few days each year at the start of the monsoons to breed.

 

Conservation Attention

Low

Seychelles Palm Frog

Sechellophryne pipilodryas

The Critically Endangered Seychelles palm frog was only described as a new species in 2002, and details of its breeding behaviour are currently unknown.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Thomasset’s Seychelles Frog

Sooglossus thomasseti

Thomasset’s frog is the largest of the Seychelles’ native frogs, reaching a maximum length of 55 mm, and is Critically Endangered.

Conservation Attention

Low

Chinese Crocodile Lizard

Shinisaurus crocodilurus

There are perhaps no more than 1,000 individuals of the Endangered Chinese crocodile lizard — which is found in southern China and northern Vietnam — remaining in the wild today.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Shinisaurus crocodilurus - shutterstock Shinisaurus crocodilurus - shutterstock

Bengal Florican

Houbaropsis bengalensis

This otherwise reclusive bird is best known for its elaborate courtship display, where the male’s black and white plumage is shown off to good effect in short arching display flights, as well as choreographed strutting – with fluffed up neck feathers and a head pumping action, to attract females.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Bengal Florican Bengal Florican

Chinese pangolin

Manis pentadactyla

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world, and the Chinese pangolin may be the most endangered of them all.

Conservation Attention

Low

Chinese Pangolin, Manis pentadactyla Chinese Pangolin, Manis pentadactyla

Sunda pangolin

Manis javanica

Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammal.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Sunda Pangolin Sunda Pangolin

Black Rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

The black rhinoceros has four subspecies, one of which was declared extinct in 2011, with two others critically endangered.

Conservation Attention

Good

Mountainous Star Coral

Orbicella faveolata

Subject to a recent name change (previously known as Montastrea faveolata), Orbicella faveolata was distinguished from Orbicella annularis in 1994.

 

Conservation Attention

Low

Red panda

Ailurus fulgens

The scientific name of this rare and beautiful species literally means ‘fire-coloured cat’.

Conservation Attention

Good

Red ruffed lemur

Varecia rubra

The red ruffed lemur is one of the largest species of lemur.

Conservation Attention

Good

Red ruffed lemur Red ruffed lemur

Philippine Eagle

Pithecophaga jefferyi

The Philippine Eagle is one of the world’s largest, most powerful birds of prey.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Philippine eagle Philippine eagle

Wild Camel

Camelus ferus

The Wild Camel, known locally as Khavtgai, can withstand drought, food shortages, and even radiation from nuclear weapons testing.

Conservation Attention

Low

Bactrian Camel Bactrian Camel

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

Despite the Hawksbill turtle being a truly global species, females show the incredible behaviour of natal homing, returning to their original breeding grounds due to ‘breeding ground fidelity’.

Conservation Attention

Good

Hawksbill Turtle Hawksbill Turtle

Northern Darwin’s Frog

Rhinoderma rufum

The Northern Darwin’s frog is one of only two frogs in the world which exhibit ‘mouth brooding’ parental care, whereby the young undergo part of their development in the parent’s mouth. It is possible this species is now extinct.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Northern Darwins frog ©Amybruninganimation.com Northern Darwins frog ©Amybruninganimation.com

Gharial

Gavialis gangeticus

The Critically Endangered gharial is an unmistakable crocodile on the brink of extinction. It has long, thin jaws which it uses to catch fish and males have a large, bulbous growth, known as a ‘ghara’, on the tip of their snout.

Conservation Attention

Good

Gharial Gharial

Togo Slippery Frog

Conraua derooi

Reaching moderate sizes of 75-85 mm, it is not immediately obvious that the Togo slippery frog is a close relative of the world’s largest frog, the Goliath frog.

Conservation Attention

Low

Big-headed Turtle

Platysternon megacephalum

As its name suggests, the big-headed turtle has a disproportionately large head compared to its small body. Its head is so large, in fact, that it cannot be retracted into its shell!

Conservation Attention

Low

Big-headed Turtle Big-headed Turtle

Hooded Grebe

Podiceps gallardoi

Only discovered in 1974 the Hooded Grebe is found in regions across Argentina and possibly Chile.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Hooded Grebe (Podiceps gallardoi) Hooded Grebe (Podiceps gallardoi)

Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna

Zaglossus attenboroughi

Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, also known as Sir David’s Long-beaked Echidna, is the smallest and probably most threatened of the three long-beaked echidna species. Echidnas and platypus are the only mammals to lay eggs.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna Sir David's Long-beaked Echidna

Toad-skinned Frog

Walkerana phrynoderma

The Critically Endangered toad-skinned frog is endemic to the Western Ghats of India. The family of frogs to which this species belongs diverged from all other amphibians over 80 million years ago.

Conservation Attention

Low

Pygmy Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus pygmaeus

The pygmy three-toed sloth is the smallest of the three-toed sloths, and was only recognised as a distinct species in 2001.

Conservation Attention

Low

Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas

The green turtle is a truly global species, occurring across the tropics and subtropics. Females show the incredible behaviour of natal homing, returning to the beaches where they hatched to lay their own eggs!

Conservation Attention

Good

Green Turtle Green Turtle

Baird’s Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Baird’s tapir is the largest indigenous mammal in Central America. Tapirs are a ‘primitive’ group that resemble the ancestor of rhinos and horses, and have remained morphologically similar for the last 35 million years.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Baird's Tapir Baird's Tapir

Lithophyllon ranjithi

Lithophyllon ranjithi

This endangered coral species has a range which is restricted to one small area off the coast of north-eastern Borneo where it is easily misidentified as a closely related species, Lithophyllon undulatum.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Lithophyllon ranjithi Lithophyllon ranjithi

Pillar Coral

Dendrogyra cylindrus

Commonly known as Pillar Coral, colonies of this species are found in flat, sheltered locations ranging from the southern tip of Florida down to the coast of Venezuela.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Dendrogrya cylindrus Dendrogrya cylindrus

Sibree’s Dwarf Lemur

Cheirogaleus sibreei

Sibree’s dwarf lemur was believed extinct following the destruction of its first recorded forest habitat, though they were found in their high altitude habitat on Mount Maharira in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, as well as in Tsinjarivo, where it may be restricted by rivers.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Pearl Bubble Coral

Physogyra lichtensteini

Commonly known as the Pearl Bubble Coral, Physogyra lichtensteini is distinct due to its fleshy vesicles which are on display throughout the day providing refuge for several marine invertebrates including shrimp.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Pearl Bubble Coral, Physogyra lichtensteini Philippines Pearl Bubble Coral, Physogyra lichtensteini Philippines

Elephant Skin Coral

Pachyseris rugosa

Commonly named as the Elephant Skin Coral due to its wrinkly appearance, Pachyseris rugosa is a fairly common species on tropical reef systems within its range.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Shoebill

Balaeniceps rex

This large waterbird is unmistakable due to its unique ‘shoe-shaped’ bill which gives it an almost prehistoric appearance – reminding us of birds’ dinosaur ancestry.

Conservation Attention

Good

Shoebill Shoebill

Pygmy Hippopotamus

Choeropsis liberiensis

The pygmy hippo is the smaller, reclusive and nocturnal cousin to the more widely known common hippo.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Pygmy Hippopotamus Pygmy Hippopotamus

Du Toit’s Torrent Frog

Arthroleptides dutoiti

There have been numerous surveys to locate Du Toit’s torrent frog since its last record in 1962, but all attempts have failed to find the species.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Heliofungia actiniformis

Heliofungia actiniformis

Unlike many Scleractinian corals, adult polyps of Heliofungia are solitary and free living.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Fungi or Mushroom coral (Heliofungia actiniformis) resembles Sea anemone but is a solitary hard coral ot atached to the substrate, Papua New Guinea Fungi or Mushroom coral (Heliofungia actiniformis) resembles Sea anemone but is a solitary hard coral ot atached to the substrate, Papua New Guinea

Gardiner’s Seychelles Frog

Sechellophryne gardineri

Gardiner’s Seychelles frog is one of the world’s smallest frog species, with adults reaching the size of just 1 cm! This species is ground-dwelling and forages at night for small invertebrates such as mites.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Colombian Dwarf Gecko

Lepidoblepharis miyatai

Following its discovery in 1964, the Colombian dwarf gecko had not been seen again until a new population was recently discovered more than 100 km from the original location.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Colombian dwarf gecko Colombian dwarf gecko

West African Slender-snouted Crocodile

Mecistops cataphractus

The West African slender-snouted crocodile is known for its unmistakable long and slender snout, which lacks any bony ridges.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Seychelles Frog

Sooglossus sechellensis

The Seychelles frog is an incredibly tiny frog, with males reaching a maximum length of just 15 mm.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Rufous-headed Hornbill

Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni

This colourful and distinctive bird is one of the most endangered Hornbills.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni,Rufous-headed Hornbill Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni,Rufous-headed Hornbill

Pelagic Thresher

Alopias pelagicus

This species has an extraordinarily long caudal fin it uses a whip to stun its prey, and distinctive prominent eyes. Although it has a circumpolar range, little is known on its biology and ecology.

Conservation Attention

Low

Pelagic Thresher, Alopias pelagicus Pelagic Thresher, Alopias pelagicus

White-winged Flufftail

Sarothrura ayresi

The White-winged Flufftail is a very rare and tiny African bird which breeds north of the equator in Ethiopia and then migrates south to Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Conservation Attention

Medium

White-winged flufftail White-winged flufftail

Cantor’s Giant Softshell

Pelochelys cantorii

Cantor’s giant softshell is an exceptionally large freshwater turtle, with individuals known to reach over 1 metre in length and weigh more than 100 kilograms! Sadly, these extraordinary turtles are on the brink of extinction.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Siberian Crane

Leucogeranus leucogeranus

This large white crane, with its elegant long legs and neck, stands at well over a metre in height.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Siberian Crane Siberian Crane

Chacoan Peccary

Catagonus wagneri

The Chacoan peccary is a pig-like mammal with a long, flexible snout and a coat of grey brown bristly fur, and is the largest of the three living species of peccary.

Conservation Attention

Low

Chacoan peccary Chacoan peccary

Hirola

Beatragus hunteri

Perhaps the world’s rarest and most endangered antelope, the hirola is the sole survivor of a formerly diverse group, and is often referred to as a living fossil.

Conservation Attention

Low

Hirola Hirola

Madagascar Frog

Mantidactylus pauliani

The Critically Endangered Madagascar frog was described in 1974, but was not recorded again for over 40 years until 2010.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Red Slender Loris

Loris tardigradus

The red slender loris has extremely thin arms and legs and is arboreal (tree dwelling).

Conservation Attention

Low

Red Slender Loris Red Slender Loris

Kottigehar Dancing Frog

Micrixalus kottigeharensis

The Kottigehar Bush Frog is only known from the type locality; Kottigehar, Kadur and from a recently discovered population at Bhadrea, India

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Kottigehar dancing frog Kottigehar dancing frog