Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel
Newly discovered lizards already close to extinction
Caribbean skinks discovered en-masse

The discovery of 24 new species of skink lizards on Caribbean islands has been tempered by fears that as many as half of the newly discovered species may either be in imminent danger of extinction or may be actually extinct already and the remainder are under serious threat. The research team, led by Professor Blair Hedges of Penn State University, published their findings in the journal Zootaxa in a 245 page article.

The addition of so many species to the known global species count simultaneously has not occurred since the 1800s, even though approximately 130 species of reptile are added each year. However, that they are in danger of extinction has provoked concern. Commenting, Prof Hedges explained that "According to our research, all of the skink species found only on Caribbean islands are threatened...That is, they should be classified in the Red List as either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. Finding that all species in a fauna are threatened is unusual, because only 24 percent of the 3,336 reptile species listed in the Red List have been classified as threatened with extinction. Most of the 9,596 named reptile species have yet to be classified in the Red List."

Responsibility for the species' current status has been attributed to predation by mongooses introduced to the Caribbean from India in 1872 to control rats in the sugarcane plantations of Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, the Lesser Antilles, and Puerto Rico. "By 1900, less than 50 percent of those mongoose islands still had their skinks, and the loss has continued to this day." noted Prof Hedges.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.