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altamahaspinymussel
Think of endangered species, and you probably think of Florida panthers or blue whales or California golden condors -- big, charismatic animals that easily move the heart.
But endangered species can be small, odd and unappealing, too. These animals are no less special; they're still one-of-a kind works of evolutionary art, sculpted over millions of years.
On the following pages are some of the animals that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided this year to consider for endangered status. Many steps remain in their bureaucratic journey to protection, which can take years, even decades, and may end with a decision that they're not endangered.
They could also suffer the fate of the Gunnison Sage Grouse, which the USFWS said last month that it ought to protect, but couldn't, because it didn't have the resources. The federal government spends just $140 million for all Endangered Species Act-related activities.
But a few animals, like the Ozark Hellbender salmander or the Altamaha spinymussel (above), declared endangered earlier this month, will get lucky. Hopefully all these other animals will, too.
Image: Matthew Niemiller, University of Tennessee
See Also:
- Oil Disaster Shows Need for Endangered Species Act Overhaul
- To Save Animals, Put a Price on Them
- DNA Testing Finds Endangered Whale Meat in Restaurants
- See Them While You Can: Endangered Butterfly Gallery
- A Third of 'Extinct' Mammals May Still Be Alive
Brandon's Twitter stream, reportorial outtakes and citizen-funded White Nose Syndrome story; Wired Science on Twitter.
