Which Cuddly Land Mammals Are Most In Danger From Climate Change?

Now that the most adorable animals are under threat, surely we'll turn the tide on the warming planet.

By Clay Dillow Posted 12.13.2012 at 2:03 pm 13 Comments

Black Howler Monkeys: Adaptable Zoological Society of London

Many species of mammals are at a greater risk of extinction due to the predicted rise in extreme weather events (see: climate change), a new study by the Zoological Society of London concludes. That means cuddly land mammals are on the short list for extinction due to drought, increased cyclone activity, and the like.

Of particular concern are primates, which as a group are already among the most endangered species on the planet. Some monkeys, like the Yucatan spider monkey and the black howler monkey have been documented in studies as adapting to habitats that have been ravaged by cyclones in the past (over 90 percent of their known habitats have been affected at some point). The hope is that other primates will be able to do the same. But there is absolutely no documented evidence to suggest that they will be able to cope with extreme drought and other conditions that are predicted for the future.

The same is true for many other species, the ZSL says. This is simply an under-studied topic. But the notion that species will be able to adapt to climate and habitat conditions that are expected to change rapidly over the next century is not one that is overwhelmingly supported. If the ZSL’s study is correct, our list of endangered species--even the cuddly, cute ones people tend to care about--is likely about to grow substantially.

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13 Comments

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Robot

12/13/12 at 2:25 pm

Ok, global warming is now being watered down to be called climate change.

Still I would have thought climate change would be a seasonal thing and then not a problem for the local adaptive wild life.

Hmm, I do not thing this new slant for renaming global warming to climate change is going to work, lol.

It has me curious how this washes out...

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tamasak

12/13/12 at 3:25 pm

It's called climate change, because global warming is not correct.. it's not an obvious warming that's ruining the Earth.

The main tendency (in temperature changes) thanks to human activity is that the extremes are getting more and more extreme. For example really hot days in the summer and really cold days in the winter. This has a great effect in many seasonal things, such as the disappearing of autumn and spring in continental regions. Observe for example that it's really warm in the middle of November, and by the end of November it's freezing!!

These extremes are because of instability in the global climate, and they result in more and more natural catastrophes.

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Flingbot

12/13/12 at 3:50 pm

Well, that's the beauty of evolution isn't it? They've got two choices. Adapt to their new environment or fuck off!

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gizmowiz

12/13/12 at 4:10 pm

Nature is change. Your right--either adapt or bid out.

Mankind wants to keep everything the same but that is impossible and were not gods.

Go with the flow I always say.

If even have the drivers in America did (go with the flow) then the death toll from driving would be zilch instead of 10's of thousands.

It's the rich that are upset as they will have to find new beach front property. Bummer.

But we can all plan ahead and buy NEW beach front property--that which is on a cliff and can support being moved up and up and up and up as the water rise!!

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Robot

12/13/12 at 4:11 pm

Flingbot,
You act as if life had a vote for evolution and eagerly accepted.

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gizmowiz

12/13/12 at 4:17 pm

Mankind is definitely an endangered species--from itself.

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Flingbot

12/13/12 at 4:59 pm

Robot,

Ummm, yeah? Kind of by definition, you weird asshole.

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Robot

12/13/12 at 7:20 pm

Flingbot,
And you kind of miss the evolution train yourself and flinging you bots from a cage at the zoo....

Alrighty then. ....

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mememine69

12/14/12 at 8:41 am

In a real civilized society you lazy copy and paste news editors would be charged for uttering these CO2 death threats to billions of helpless children.

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