Environment SA News

South Australia’s lesser-known threatened species

 

Today is National Threatened Species Day and this year we are shining a light on some of SA’s lesser-known threatened to extinction plants, fish, birds and mammals.

South Australia’s lesser-known threatened species
By highlighting a species as threatened this helps rally resources and funding to conserve its existence locally. Pictured is the endangered woods well spyridium. Only 14 of these plants are remaining in the wild.

National Threatened Species Day is held annually on 7 September to raise awareness about Australian plants and animals that are at risk of extinction in the wild.

Since European colonisation it is estimated that 73 species – 41 plants and 32 animals – have become extinct in South Australia.

Today, South Australia has more than 1,000 species (828 plants, 324 animals) that are considered threatened at a state-level and about 200 at a national-level. This is because species that are threatened in SA can also occur in other states and territories, where they may be less or more of them.

Here are 10 lesser-known SA species:

1. Whibley wattle

Species: Plant
SA threatened species status: Endangered
SA population size: Estimated to be about 1800

2. Woods well spyridium

Species: Plant
SA threatened species status: Endangered
SA population size: 14

3. Trailing hop-bush

Species: Plant
SA threatened species status: Vulnerable
SA population size: Estimated to be about 300

4. Blue-top sun orchid

Species: Plant
SA threatened species status: Endangered
SA population size: Less than 200

5. Murray hardyhead

Species: Fish
SA threatened species status: Endangered
SA population size: Estimated to be about 10,000

6. Yarra pygmy perch

Species: Fish
SA threatened species status: Endangered
SA population size: Extinct in the wild. There are less than 1000 in captivity.

7. Glossy black-cockatoo

Species: Bird
SA threatened species status: Endangered
SA population size: Estimated to be about 360

8. Hooded plover

Species: Bird
SA threatened species status: Vulnerable
SA population size: Less than 800

9. Black-footed rock-wallaby

Species: Mammal
SA threatened species status: Endangered
SA population size: Estimated to be about 250

10. Grey-headed flying fox

Species: Mammal
SA threatened species status: Vulnerable
SA population size: More than 20,000

For more on these lesser-known SA threatened species check out the department’s Good Living blog.