criteria

♤ reduction in population (> 90% over the last 10 years),

♤ population size (number less than 50 mature individuals),

♤ quantitative analysis showing the probability of extinction in wild in at least 50% in their 10 years) and

♤ it is therefore considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

PIT VIPERS

The ‘pit’ is a special organ in between the eyes and the nostrils. The pit senses body heat from animals and gives the snake a ‘picture’ of that animal. The snake can then attack it. This helps these snakes to find prey in the dark.

Some pit vipers will bite and poison the prey and then release it. It will follow the dying animal, using its heat sensors, until it stops and the snake can swallow it. Most pit vipers hunt at night when the air is cooler and the heat from rodents and other prey is most obvious to them. All rattlesnakes are Pit Vipers.