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.
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.