Out of control
Here are seven species that may disappear if nothing is done: BLACK-FACED LION TAMARIN Level of threat: Severely in danger Where it lives: Paraná and São Paulo Although it’s not as famous as the lion tamarin, this monkey’s existence is under great threat. There are none in captivity and its wild population number is only 400. The blackfaced lion tamarin is highly sensitive to environmental changes. SAPINHO-NARIGUDO-DE-BARRIGA-VERMELHA (melanophryniscus macrogranulosus) *(there’s no English name, but it translates roughly to: Little-big-nose-red-belly-frog) Level of threat: Severely in danger Where it lives: Rio Grande do Sul Water pollution, toxins, change in weather, and an increase in the number of plantation areas are endangering the existence or survival of these creatures in the country. SPIX’S MACAW Level of threat: Extinct in nature Where it lives: Bahia, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Piauí and Tocantins The deforestation of trees in the Caatinga Forest, where the Spix’s Macaw makes its nest, and illegal traffic made this bird disappear. There are only 60 in captivity. The last one studied in Bahia was gone in 2000. ARANHA-CHICOTE (CHARINUS TROGLOBIOS) *(there’s no English name, but it’s meaning is something like Whip-spider) Level of threat: Severely in danger Where it lives: Bahia This kind of spider is only found in caves between Bahia and Minas Gerais. “The limestone exploitation is killing the spiders’ habitat”, says biologist Alessandro Giupponi, from the National Museum of the University of Rio de Janeiro. LEATHERBACK TURTLE Level of threat: Severely in danger Where it lives: In the northeastern, southern and southeastern coasts. The biggest of all Brazilian turtles (78 inches, 1,000 lbs.) suffers due to marine pollution and poaching. They make their nest on the beach and are easy targets because they move very slowly. BESOURO-ROLA-BOSTA (dichotomius schiffleri) *(there’s no English name, but it translates roughly to: Crap-rolling beetle) Level of threat: Severely in danger Where it lives: Espírito Santo Fires and unregulated tourism on Birigui Island (ES) are endangering the only place this beetle is found. “It carries this curious name because it lays its eggs in little balls it makes from cow feces,” explains University of Minas Gerais’ biologist Angelo Machado. TOPE SHARK Level of threat: Severely in danger Where it lives: The coasts along São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul
Créditos
The tope shark is around 77 inches and is endangered by illegal fishing. Its reproduction process takes a year, which also impairs the species.
Leontopithecus caissara http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/ Cyanopsitta spixii Loro Park Foundation www.loroparque-fundacion.org/
Dermochelys coriacea http://www.amigosdomarnaescola.com.br/img/bco Melanophryniscus macrogranulosus www.arkive.org photo by Marcos Di Bernardo
Dichotomius schiffleri http://vamossalvarnossoplaneta.blogspot.com Galeorhinus galeus http://www.horta.uac.pt/imagdop
Brazil Explore Magazine | 19