EXTINCT, ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES!

Many animal species are disappearing from our planet. In fact, more than 5,600 species of animals are in danger of extinction.

Humans are largely responsible for animals becoming extinct, endangered or threatened. Here are some of the things that can put animals at risk:

POLLUTION
Oil spills, acid rain and water pollution have been devastating for many species of fish and birds.
DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT
Humans destroy precious habitat-the natural environment of a living thing-when they fill swamps and marshes, dam rivers and cut down trees to build homes, roads and other structure or developments.
ENDANGERED animals are in immediate danger of becoming extinct.

EXTINCT means the entire species has died out.
INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC SPECIES

When foreign animals or plants are introduced into a new habitat, they sometimes bring diseases that the native species can't fight. Exotic species, although able to prey on native species, often have no natural enemies.

HUNTING AND FISHING
Many animals are overhunted because their meat, fur and other parts are very valuable.


THREATENED species are likely to become endangered in the future.

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ANIMAL HALL OF FAME

BIGGEST

Land Mammal: African elephants weigh up to 16,500 pounds and can eat as much as 600 pounds of food a day!

Bird: The ostrich can grow to 9 feet tall and weigh as much as 350 pounds.

Fish: The whale shark, shich is not a whale, reaches 46 feet in lenght and weighs up to 15 tons.

Reptile: The saltwater crocodile can grow to 23 feet long.

Insect: Giant walking sticks can grow to about 20 inches in lenght.

SMALLEST

Land Mammal: The bumblebee bat tips the scale at about 2 grams and measures between 30 and 40 millimeters as an adult.

Bird: The hummingbird grows only to 2.5 inches long and weighs only 0.06 of an ounce.

Fish: The Poedocypris pregenetica measures just over 1/3 of an inch long.

Reptile: The British Vifgin Islands gecko is about 3/4 of an inch long when fully grown.

Insect: Fairyflies are only about 1/5 of a millimeter long.

FASTEST

Land Mammal: The cheetah can run as fast as 70 m.p.h.

Bird: The peregrine falcon dives at speeds of up to 200 m.p.h. and can fly at a rate of 90 m.p.h. making it not only the fastest bird but also the fastest animal. Ostriches can run as fast as 43 m.p.h.

Fish: The Indo-Pacific sailfish can swim at speeds of up to 68 m.p.h.

Reptile: The spiny-tailed iguana has clocked in at 21 m.p.h.

Insect: Hawk moths can reach a speed of about 33 m.p.h.

MEANEST

Land Mammal: The ratel, or honey badger, is one of the fiercest. most predatory animals on the planet. It preys upon many animals, including scorpions, porcupines, tortoises, crocodiles and snakes. Attracted to honey, it also ravages beehives. Healthy ratels have no predators.

Bird: The peregrine falcon, an extremely aggresive hunter, preys on small mammals and other birds. It descends on its victims from the air at speeds of up to 200 m.p.h.

Fish: The stonefish, which lives at the bottom of the ocean, is the most poisonous fish in the world. Its 13 dorsal spines release deadly venoms, making it dangerous to both humans and marine life.

Reptile: One bite from inland taipan contains enough toxin to kill about 100 people.

Insect: The anopheles mosquito is the deadliest creatures on Earth. It's responsible for more than 300 million cases of malaria each year and causes between one million and three million deaths.