We recently brought you the story of thevaquita, a small porpoise that is facing certain extinction.
Unfortunately, the vaquita isn’t alone in its plight, with numerous marine animals on theIUCNendangered species list.
The more you know, the more you could help.
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Here are just 7 of the endangered marine species that need our help before their populations disappear.
Yangtze Finless Porpoise
Photo:Institute of Hydrobiology.
There are some porpoises in captivity and three breeding grounds in Japan, which have produced five births.
Photo:Institute of Hydrobiology. Chinese Academy of Sciences
Part of its misfortune came from egg overharvesting over the course of the last century.
Also, you’re able to donate to theSea Turtle Conservancy.
As humans move in, seals are pushed out of their natural habitat or disturbed by beachgoers.
Photo:Prentissvia Shutterstock
The species was especially popular with commercial whale hunters as early as the 11th century.
Forty percent of its body weight is blubber, which causes it to float when dead.
This is unusual for whales, but made it quite easy for hunters to collect the blubber.
Tom Tietzvia Shutterstock
Where do they live?Western North Atlantic Ocean
How many are left?
Living in deep water, it feeds on plankton and small fish.
With its large pectoral fins, the giant devil ray is easily able to traverse ocean waters.
Photo:Steve Meesevia Shutterstock
Exact population estimates are difficult, but it has been listed as endangered by the IUCN since 2006.
The giant devil ray has an extremely low birth rate.
Its high bycatch mortality rate, coupled with a low birth rate for the species places it in danger.
Photo: putneymark [CC BY-SA 2.0],via Wikimedia Commons
They transition into the water to cool off with a swim or feed as needed.
They have also fell victims of the bycatch in fisheries.
They are built like a torpedo as they have fins that retract and eyes set flush to their body.
Photo:Filip Kubalavia Shutterstock
Bluefin hunt by sight and have the sharpest vision of any bony fish.
They are incredible predators and seek out schools of fish like herring, mackerel, and even eels.
This makes them a top predator in the marine food chain, maintaining a balance in the ocean environment.
Photo: Zahangir Alom / Marine Mammal Commission / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Public domain],via Wikimedia Commons
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Photo:Stock Photosfrom Alexius Sutandio/Shutterstock
