Endangered Species in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands

Invertebrate

Crabs “El Cangrejo Ciego” (Munidopsis polymorpha) is a blind crab that only lives in Jameos del Agua.

Risks of extinction:- Water pollution

“El Remípedo de los Jameos”(Speleonectes ondinae) is another crab that lives in Jameos del Agua

Risks of the extinction:- Water pollution

“La langosta herreña” (Panulirus echinatus) lives in the rocky coasts of the Calmas Sea in El Hierro. They live from 5 to 25 m deep in caves.

Risks of the extinction:- Overfishing

Beatles“ La Pimelia de las arenas” (Pimelia granulicollis ) and “ El picudo de la tabaiba de Monte”(Rhopalomesites euphorbiae) Risks of the extinction:• Degradation of their habitat.• The plant where the “picudo”

lives, the “Tabaiba de Monte”, is endangered

• Water pollution

Grasshopper“El cigarrón palo palmero”(Acrostira euphorbiae) lives in the “bitter Tabaiba”.

Risks of the extinction:• Degradation of its habitat.• The population of the “bitter Tabaiba” has dropped

Spider“El Opilión majorero cavernícola” (Maiorerus randoi) only lives in a volcanic cave of Fuerteventura. There are a few number of specimens.

Risks of the extinction:• the degradation of the cave

Mollusc“La Lapa majorera”(Patella candei candei) lives in rocky coasts of Fuerteventura. Risks of the extinction:

• Uncontrolled shellfish• Degradation of its habitat

Vertebrate

Lizards

“ El lagarto gigante de la Gomera” (Gallotia gomerana) is a giant lizard that can be 15cm when it is a baby. The adults measure 70cm .

Risks of the extinction:• Degradation of its habitat. • Grown wild cats

El “lagarto gigante de El Hierro” (Gallotia simonyi), another giant lizard that measures 60 cm when it is an adult and weighs 400 g

Risks of the extinction:• Degradation of its habitat. • Grown wild cats.

“El lagarto gigante de Tenerife”(Gallotia intermedia) . Tenerife giant lizard measures from 45 to 75cm. Risks of the extinction:• Degradation of its habitat.• Grown wild cats.

BirdsThere are only 22 couples of Guirres (Neophron percnopterus majorensis).This vulture is an endangered animal because of:• Degradation of its habitat• Electric towers• Lack of food

There are only 700-750 specimens of “Hubara” (Chlamydotis undulata)

Risks of the extinction:• Degradation of its habitat.• Hunting• Cars driving out of road.

There are only 150 specimens of “Pinzón Azul” (Fringilla teydea polatzeki).

Risks of the extinction:• Degradation of its habitat.• Hunting.• Forest fires.

Protect them!