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The great spotted kiwi, aka great grey kiwi or roroa, is the largest species of kiwi and hails from the South Island of New Zealand. Kiwis are flightless birds. These birds face the threat of invasive species in the form of cats, dogs, feral pigs, and stoats. As a result, […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Mexican beaded lizard, aka beaded lizard, is but 1 of 2 species of venomous lizards. The other being the Gila monster. The beaded lizard is larger and duller in coloration than the Gila monster. These lizards face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of farming, […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Himalayan wolf as its own species is highly debated, as they are quite similar to the Mongolian wolf and African wolf. However, mitochondrial DNA has determined that they are genetically basal to the grey wolf. Some scientists have proposed the reclassification of this lineage as a separate species. They […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The tiger muskellunge, aka tiger muskie, is the typically sterile, hybrid offspring of the true muskellunge and the northern pike. These fish can be found from eastern Canada to northeastern and midwestern United States. They face the threats of habitat division at the hands of dams and other water management […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The spotted salamander, aka yellow-spotted salamander, is a species of mole salamander that hails from eastern Canada and eastern United States. These salamanders face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of deforestation from the logging industry; roads and railroads that divide their territory and can result […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The lesser grison is a species of mustelid that hails from South America. They are the bane of cavies throughout their range, and are persecuted for hunting poultry as well. These grisons face the threats of habitat division from roads and railroads, which also result in vehicle strike (being hit […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The European paper wasp is among the most common and well-known species of social wasps. While initially hailing from Europe, they are considered an invasive species in North America. These critters are not evaluated by the IUCN, as they are not only invasive but also highly abundant on 2 continents. […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The black-backed jackal is a mid-sized species of jackal that plays an important role in African folklore, often depicted as a cunning and adaptable trickster. They hail from eastern and southern Africa. These critters face the threats of hunting, for their meat; trapping, for fear of livestock predation; persecution for […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Asian giant softshell turtle, aka Cantor’s giant softshell turtle or the frog-faced softshell turtle, vanished from most of their range in the 20th century. These turtles face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial developments, marine and freshwater aquaculture, mining, quarrying, dams […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The brown crab, aka edible crab, is found in the North Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and possibly the Mediterranean Sea. These crabs face the threats of overfishing; diseases, including: pink crab disease, shell disease syndrome, and various viruses; cadmium poisoning, which renders them unsellable due to the poisonous meat; predation, […]

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