Extinction Countdown

A new paper finds that we’re failing these “small-bodied mammals” — and that comes with a cost to ecosystems around the world.

The charismatic animals could serve as flagship species for ocean conservation, according to researchers, but only if we understand their extinction risks.

It wasn’t the Roman gladiators that did in this black-maned beast, but the exact date of its disappearance remains a mystery.

Despite their enormous ecological values, new research reveals we don’t understand how most arachnid species are faring right now — or do much to protect them.

New research has uncovered a forgotten species that went extinct under two centuries ago — probably due to colonialism.

A rampant trade in Asian birds for their beautiful songs is emptying forests of sound and life.

Dozens of frogs, fish, orchids and other species — many unseen for decades — may no longer exist due to humanity’s destructive effects on the planet.

A final rule to remove the iconic species from the Endangered Species Act has now been published. Read more about the science and politics of wolf conservation.

Smalltail shark populations have declined by 90% in Brazil, and new research finds that overfishing has pushed the species perilously close to extinction.

A new paper identifies 65 plant extinctions in the continental United States and Canada — but that’s probably just a fraction of what we’ve lost.