EDGE Species - Focal Species

Focal Species

Many EDGE species are not being adequately protected by existing conservation measures. This suggests that a disproportionate amount of evolutionary history is likely to be lost in the near future. To redress this balance, ten focal species are selected each year for which active research and conservation programmes will be carried out.

The focal species are the subject of research programmes aimed at establishing what the main threats are and what actions need to be taken to ensure their survival. Each study is focused on delivering a conservation action plan. These plans provide information on the conservation actions highlighted by the research programme, and identify key stakeholders that will carry out these actions.

2007/8 focal mammal species

Numbers refer to EDGE rank

1. Yangtze River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer)

2. Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi)

5. Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus)

8. Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)

21. Pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis)

22. Slender loris (Loris tardigradus)

37. Hirola antelope (Beatragus hunteri)

46. Golden-rumped elephant-shrew (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus)

49. Bumblebee bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai)

81. Long-eared jerboa (Euchoreutes naso)

2008/9 focal amphibian species

2. Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)

3. Sagalla caecilian (Boulengerula niedeni)

4. Purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis)

15. Ghost frogs (Heleophryne hewitti and Heleophryne rosei)

18. Olm (Proteus anguinus)

24. Lungless Mexican salamanders (20 species from the top ranked 100 species, including Parvimolge townsendi, Chiropterotriton lavae, Chiropterotriton magnipes and Chiropterotriton mosaueri)

37. Malagasy rainbow frog (Scaphiophryne gottlebei)

45. Chile Darwin's frog (Rhinoderma rufum)

55. Betic midwife toad (Alytes dickhilleni)

69. Seychelles frogs (Sooglossus gardineri, Sooglossus pipilodryas, Sooglossus sechellensis and Sooglossus thomasseti)