Endangered animals 2
The top 10 most endangered animals in the world continued ...
4. Beluga Sturgeon
The Beluga or European sturgeon are huge fish that can grow up to 6 metres in length and are found in the Caspian Sea which is bordered by southern Russia, western Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. They are Valued throughout the world for their superior quality caviar which is produced by the female. Their numbers are threatened by poaching due to excessive demand and high prices paid for the Sturgeons' "pearl-like" caviar, known as Beluga Caviar.
5. Alligator Snapping Turtle
The Alligator Snapping Turtle is the largest of freshwater turtles from North America and can be found in the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The turtle is quickly being depleted due to it being hunted for its rare meat and increased shipments to many international world markets including Asia.
6. Hawksbill Turtle
The Hawksbill turtle is found mainly around tropical reefs around the world. The three foot (one metre) length Hawksbill turtle species is named for its distinctive snout. It is becoming extremely vulnerable due to their slow reproduction rates and high volume of illegal trade for the prized jewel-like "tortoise shell." It is illegal to capture and to trade in hawksbill turtles and products derived from them in many nations.
Why is this species important?
Marine turtles fulfil important roles in marine ecosystems. Marine turtles feed many species in the open ocean. The small turtles eat tiny animals that they find in the floating seaweed concentrations where they live. Fish, sharks and birds in turn prey upon the young turtles. The marine turtles fill an important ecological role by controlling prey species and themselves providing food to larger predators. The disappearance of marine turtles could therefore have widespread effects in open ocean and coastal ecosystems.