Viral squeaky frog is now at risk of extinction

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which monitors the state of the world’s plants and animals, warns that as nature loss accelerates across the planet, species adapted to harsh environments, such as the desert rain frog, are coming under increasing pressure.

There is also growing concern about a tiny snail found only around superheated sources on the ocean floor. It is now listed as Critically Endangered.

These and other extraordinary deep-sea snails, limpets, mussels and oysters could be threatened by plans to extract valuable minerals from the deep seafloor, environmentalists say.

Although large-scale mining has not yet begun, companies and governments are awaiting international rules that could pave the way for extraction.

Governments and mining companies are increasingly interested in extracting minerals from the depths of the ocean needed for green technologies such as batteries.

Supporters say deep-sea mining may be less damaging to the environment than mining on land, but many scientists warn it could harm fragile and poorly understood marine ecosystems and call for a pause until more research is done.

Warning signs are not limited to animals.

These include Wilmott’s whitebeam, a rare tree found only in the Avon Gorge near Bristol, of which there are currently fewer than 50 in the wild.

Emily Beech, of plant conservation charity Botanic Gardens Conservation International, said the plant had been lost due to railway works and an unknown disease.

“I think most people won’t know about the real UK treasures hiding in plain sight,” he said.