IUCN Red List Flags Deep-Sea Mining, Desert Frog Decline and Numbat Recovery

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports that the Red List now includes 175,909 species, of which 49,505 are threatened with extinction. Among the most urgent concerns are deep-sea vent molluscs, the desert rain frog (*Breviceps macrops*), and the Australian numbat (*Myrmecobius fasciatus*).

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List

A global assessment identified 125 of 201 endemic hydrothermal-vent mollusc species (62 %) as at risk of extinction, primarily because of deep-sea mining for minerals used in emerging technologies. Sediment plumes from exploration and extraction smother organisms, impairing respiration and nutrient uptake. The snail *Lirapex felix* was listed as Critically Endangered due to ongoing mining in the Indian Ocean. Conversely, more than 30 vent species are classified as Least Concern because they inhabit Marine Protected Areas, such as the ornate snail *Provanna exquisita*, which occurs only within the Mariana Arc of Fire National Wildlife Refuge in the Pacific Ocean.

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List

The desert rain frog, a burrowing amphibian of southern Africa, has been upgraded from Near Threatened to Vulnerable. Expansion of diamond mining and energy-infrastructure projects along the west coasts of South Africa and Namibia threatens up to one-third of its South African range and two-thirds of its Namibian range within the next two decades. A viral video has spurred demand in the exotic-pet trade, while climate-induced heat stress and aridification could further reduce populations. IUCN models predict a 20 % decline over the next ten years if no conservation action is taken.

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List

Intensive management has lifted the numbat from Endangered to Near Threatened. Numbers have risen from a low of ?300 individuals in the late 1970s to 2,000–3,000 today, thanks to predator-baiting, predator-proof fencing, captive breeding at Perth Zoo, and translocations that have established at least five self-sustaining populations. Despite this rebound, the species now occupies only 0.04 % of its historic range in southern Australia, and feral cats (*Felis catus*) and red foxes (*Vulpes vulpes*) remain the principal threat.

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List

The IUCN reaffirmed its 2021 vote for a moratorium on deep-sea mining until environmental risks are fully understood. The assessment is timed for the International Seabed Authority’s meeting in Jamaica, where member states will consider regulatory frameworks. Conservation officials highlighted that long-term, collaborative efforts are essential to protect both marine and terrestrial species.

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List

Industry advocates argue that deep-sea minerals are vital for clean-energy technologies, emphasizing economic benefits over precautionary bans. This perspective underscores the tension between resource demand and biodiversity protection.

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List

• “Life on Earth has adapted to survive in the most hostile and unusual habitats, such as deep-sea molluscs that live around extremely hot vents or the desert rain frog burrowing into the sand. Now as pressures on biodiversity mount across the planet, even the creatures with the most ingenious survival strategies are under threat. But let us not forget there is a clear path out of the biodiversity crisis: nature conservation works, as we are reminded again and again. By protecting the astounding range of biodiversity on this planet, we can preserve a welcoming environment for humans and wildlife alike,” — Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List

• “This global assessment reveals that molluscs endemic to deep-sea hydrothermal vents are one of the most highly threatened of all animal groups, at a critical moment for their future.” — Prof Julia Sigwart, IUCN SSC Mollusc Specialist Group

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List

• “Today’s assessments show that long-term, strategic and collaborative conservation effort works; without it, invasive cats and foxes will continue to drive Australia’s small marsupials and native rodents to extinction.” — Prof John Woinarski, Co-Chair, IUCN SSC Australasian Marsupial and Monotreme Specialist Group

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List

• “Diamond mining puts desert rain frog at risk of extinction Diamond mining and energy infrastructure developments along the west coast of South Africa and Namibia have caused the desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops) to move from Near Threatened to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.” — Prof Julia Sigwart, IUCN SSC Mollusc Specialist Group

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List

These findings illustrate how even the most uniquely adapted species are now confronting unprecedented human-driven threats, while targeted conservation can still reverse declines when sustained over decades.

From desert frog to deep-sea molluscs, remarkable species at risk – IUCN Red List