Number of Species on Japan’s Endangered List Up by 41

May 23, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's Environment Ministry on Tuesday released its revised endangered list, which now has a total of 3,675 species.

The number of species on the list increased by 41.

The Mikawa salamander, some 200 of which inhabit a hilly area in the eastern part of the central prefecture of Aichi, was newly categorized as "Critically Endangered," the highest extinction risk level among the three endangered categories. Its scientific name is Hynobius mikawaensis.

The status of Glandirana susurra, a frog that solely inhabits Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, was changed to "Endangered," the second-most-severe conservation level, from "Vulnerable," the third-most-severe level, due to the deteriorated condition of wetlands there.

Meanwhile, the ministry classified Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, the Japanese weather loach, as "Near Threatened," suggesting that the freshwater fish could be moved to one of the three endangered categories if the living conditions for the species worsen.

While the loach's extinction risk is low at present, the habitat for the fish, including rice paddies, is decreasing across the country, according to ministry officials. Jiji Press