title: Extinction risks and the conservation of Madagascar's reptiles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An understanding of the conservation status of Madagascar's endemic reptile species is needed to underpin conservation planning and priority setting in this global biodiversity hotspot, and to complement existing information on the island's mammals, birds and amphibians. We report here on the first systematic assessment of the extinction risk of endemic and native non-marine Malagasy snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Species range maps from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species were analysed to determine patterns in the distribution of threatened reptile species. These data, in addition to information on threats, were used to identify priority areas and actions for conservation. Thirty-nine percent of the data-sufficient Malagasy reptiles in our analyses are threatened with extinction. Areas in the north, west and south-east were identified as having more threatened species than expected and are therefore conservation priorities. Habitat degradation caused by wood harvesting and non-timber crops was the most pervasive threat. The direct removal of reptiles for international trade and human consumption threatened relatively few species, but were the primary threats for tortoises. Nine threatened reptile species are endemic to recently created protected areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With a few alarming exceptions, the threatened endemic reptiles of Madagascar occur within the national network of protected areas, including some taxa that are only found in new protected areas. Threats to these species, however, operate inside and outside protected area boundaries. This analysis has identified priority sites for reptile conservation and completes the conservation assessment of terrestrial vertebrates in Madagascar which will facilitate conservation planning, monitoring and wise-decision making. In sharp contrast with the amphibians, there is significant reptile diversity and regional endemism in the southern and western regions of Madagascar and this study highlights the importance of these arid regions to conserving the island's biodiversity.
authors.affiliation: Global Species Programme, IUCN, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard K B
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: IUCN/CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, Betty & Gordon Moore Center for Science & Oceans, Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America; IUCN Global Species Programme, Gland, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marcelo F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Tognelli
authors.affiliation: IUCN/CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, Betty & Gordon Moore Center for Science & Oceans, Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America; IUCN Global Species Programme, Gland, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bowles
authors.affiliation: IUCN/CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, Betty & Gordon Moore Center for Science & Oceans, Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America; IUCN Global Species Programme, Gland, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jason L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America; W. M. Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges, Claremont, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andreone
authors.affiliation: Ligue pour la Protection de la Nature à Madagascar, Lot 313 Cité Civil Ambohipo, Antaninarenina, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andriamazava
authors.affiliation: Madagasikara Voakajy, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Raphali R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Andriantsimanarilafy
authors.affiliation: WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Mirana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anjeriniaina
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Parfait
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bora
authors.affiliation: Calumma Ecological Services, Dunkirk, Faversham, Kent, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lee D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Elisoa F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Hantalalaina
authors.affiliation: Zoologische Staatssammlung München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Glaw
authors.affiliation: Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: Global Species Programme, IUCN, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hilton-Taylor
authors.affiliation: IUCN/CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, Betty & Gordon Moore Center for Science & Oceans, Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America; IUCN Species Survival Commission, Gland, Switzerland; United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Global Species Programme, IUCN, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Vineet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Katariya
authors.affiliation: Département de Zoologie et Ecologie, Faculté des Sciences Campus Ambondrona, Mahajanga, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Nirhy H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Rabibisoa
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Jeannot
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rafanomezantsoa
authors.affiliation: WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Domoina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rakotomalala
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Hery
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rakotondravony
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Ny A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Rakotondrazafy
authors.affiliation: Conservation International, Villa Hajanirina, Ankorahotra, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Johans
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ralambonirainy
authors.affiliation: Rio Tinto QMM, Fort Dauphin, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ramanamanjato
authors.affiliation: Turtle Survival Alliance, VO 12 Bis A Manakambahiny, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Herilala
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Randriamahazo
authors.affiliation: Madagasikara Voakajy, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: J Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Randrianantoandro
authors.affiliation: Conservation International, Villa Hajanirina, Ankorahotra, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Harison H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Randrianasolo
authors.affiliation: Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Jasmin E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Randrianirina
authors.affiliation: Ministère de l'Environnement et des Forêts, Nanisana, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Hiarinirina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Randrianizahana
authors.affiliation: Association Vahatra, Association Vahatra, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Achille P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Raselimanana
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Andriambolantsoa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasolohery
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar; Technical University of Braunschweig, Zoological Institute, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Fanomezana M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ratsoavina
authors.affiliation: Herpetology Department, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Raxworthy
authors.affiliation: Ministère de l'Environnement et des Forêts, Nanisana, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robsomanitrandrasana
authors.affiliation: Conservation International, Villa Hajanirina, Ankorahotra, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Finoana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rollande
authors.affiliation: IUCN/CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, Betty & Gordon Moore Center for Science & Oceans, Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Peter P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Anne D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Yoder
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Braunschweig, Zoological Institute, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vences
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D056727:Endangered Species / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D008270:Madagascar; D012104:Reptiles / Q000145:classification; D012306:Risk; D062206:Spatial Analysis
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