Viral squeaky frog now at risk of extinction

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which tracks the status of the world's plants and animals, warns that taxa adapted to utmost environments — exemplified by the godforsaken rainfall frog — are progressively slipping toward extinction as habitat degradation accelerates across the planet. There is also mounting concern about a tiny snail found only around superheated springs on the seafloor. It has now been listed as Critically Endangered. Conservationists say this and other remarkable deep‑sea snails, limpets, mussels and clams could be threatened by plans to mine valuable minerals from the deep seabed. Although large‑scale mining has yet to begin, companies and governments are awaiting global rules that could pave the way for extraction. Governments and mining companies are increasingly interested in mining the deep ocean for minerals needed for green technologies such as batteries. Supporters argue deep‑sea mining could be less environmentally damaging than land‑based mining, but many scientists warn it could harm fragile and poorly understood marine ecosystems and are calling for a moratorium until more research is carried out. The warning signs are not confined to animals. Among them is Wilmott's whitebeam, a rare tree found only in the Avon Gorge near Bristol that is now reduced to less than 50 individuals in the wild. Emily Beech of the plant conservation charity, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, said it is being lost because of railway works and an unknown disease. "I deliberation astir radical volition not cognize astir the existent UK treasures that are hiding in plain sight," she said.