Animals and plants in danger of extintion in the Portuguese territory Project Socrates Comenius “Green Harmony” Agrupamento de Escolas de Campo Maior Portugal

Were known as in danger of extinction species which numbers of those individuals is too small with imminent risk of disappearing if not properly protected.

That happens due to the economic interests, the pollution and the human growth.

Many of the animals who are in danger of extinction in the Iberian peninsula live in Portuguese territory. We are now going to know some of them.

Maybe the best known by the fact that in risk of extinction is the Iberian lynx

NAME OF SPECIES: Common: Iberian lynx. Scientific: Lynx pardinus. CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: During the day it lives hidden, hunting only at dusk. It feeds on wild rabbits. GEOGRAPHY: Serras Algavias, Alcáçovas, Comporta, Alcacer do Sal, Tejo Internacional, Serra de Portel and Serra da Malcata CAUSES OF EXTINCTION: Habitat destruction, mainly of Mediterranean scrub, has been reducing their populations.

Other one know for the same reason is the imperial eagle.

NAME OF OF SPECIES: Common: Imperial eagle. Scientific: Aquila adalberti. Exists only in the Iberian Peninsula. CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: Hawk large, with 1.75 to 1.85 m wingspan. Beak robust and yellow. Plumage very dark brown with the edge of the wings, neck and shoulders white whites. It feeds on rabbits, small mammals and some birds of medium size. GEOGRAPHY: Very rare. The worldwide exists only in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. CAUSES OF EXTINCTION: The destruction of their habitats due, for example, the replacement of forests by pine and eucalyptus, which means there are now only less than half a dozen imperial eagles among us.

Well known and feared in the past by shepherds... The woulf

NAME OF OF SPECIES: Common: Wolf Scientific: Canis lupus signatus CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: Smaller than the other wolves. Weight of around 30 to 45 Kg Head bulky. Triangular ears. Wraparound eyes, topaz. Members feet long and bulky. It feeds on deer and deer. GEOGRAPHY: Region center-east, in areas along the border with Spain. CAUSES OF EXTINCTION: The destruction of their habitat and undeserved bad reputation placed him at serious risk of extinction between us. Already disappeared in the Alentejo, with only five populations with few individuals in mountainous regions - Geres, genuineness, Bragança, and Malcata Montemuro - where the destruction is less and less man has easy access.

This is perhaps one of the less commonly known species mainly when compared with the common stork. We talk about the black stork.

NAME OF OF SPECIES: Common: Black Stork. Scientific: Ciconia nigra. CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: Plumage white belly and black on the back, tail, head and neck. Beak and legs bright red. It feeds on large insects, crustaceans, amphibians and small fish. GEOGRAPHY: Regions inland, near the international sections of rivers Douro, Tagus and Guadiana. CAUSES OF EXTINCTION: The destruction of forests, wetlands, streams and lakes as well as pollution from pesticides, puts this species in risk of extinction in Western Europe, particularly in Portugal.

We use to see this eagle, in our fields, but till when? The bonelli eagle!

NAME OF SPECIES: Common: Bonelli eagle. Scientific: Hieraaetus fasciatus CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: It has a length of 60 cm and wingspan of 165 cm. GEOGRAPHY: Live in pairs in the mountainous regions of southern Europe and northern Africa. CAUSES OF EXTINCTION: Small bird predatory, It is on track of extinction due to insecticides and fungicides used by farmers. These products attack the chemicals that insects are eaten by small mammals that serve as food for eagles, that provokes grave poisonings.

And now this that its one of the most rares. The eagle owl.

NAME OF SPECIES: Common: Eagle owl Scientific: Bubo Bubo CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: Nocturnal bird of prey, like the owl, but of large dimensions, could reach 1.70 of wingspan. GEOGRAPHY: It inhabits in regions of low human occupation, or of difficult access. Typically mountain massifs, valleys and rocky coastal cliffs. In Portugal we can find him in the lane of Tras-os- Montes, Beira Interior, Alentejo and Algarve. CAUSES OF EXTINCTION: The risk of shock and electrocution in power lines, the pursuit by humans who consider him a destroyer hunting, the disappearance of their main prey and the degradation of their habitats of nesting or feeding.

Sometimes at night we can see the or heard the Screech owl flying in our towns

NAME OF SPECIES: Common: Screech owl Scientific: Tito alba CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: It measures about 32 to 36 cm in length. It is characterized by having a flattened face and heart-shaped. The entire upper body is in shades of brown with patches of gray. The tail is the same color, and is square and short. The beak is gray and hooked. This bird has a habit of swinging from side to side and blow loudly in order to defend themselves from predators. GEOGRAPHY: It is a bird course. Spend the daytime in crevices in trees, cavities in rocks, ceilings or attics of houses, church towers etc. In Portugal we can find him from north to south. CAUSES OF EXTINCTION: The intensification of agriculture, pesticides, reduction in the number of rodents due to storage of grain in bins

And now let's discuss some of the existing plant species in our country and that are at risk of extinction

NAME OF SPECIES: Common: Morning glory of Espichel Scientific: Convolvulus fernandesii CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: Branched shrub with white flowers. Lives in crevices of limestone outcrops and unstable substrates along the cliffs with southern exposure. Flowering takes place from February to June. GEOGRAPHY: Species is very rare and restricted to the Cape area and the coast of Espichel Arrábida mountain. CAUSES OF EXTINCTION: The causes of extinction, are tourism and economic exploitation of these areas.

NAME OF SPECIES: Common: Scientific: Linaria Ricardoi CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: Linaria ricardoi is an annual plant up to 15cm, linear leaves and fleshy, with margins slightly rolled. The inflorescences are generally comprised of (a) 2-3 flowers of violet color, but in years of heavy spring rains, the plant can grow to 50cm and produce dozens of flowers GEOGRAPHY: This is an annual plant that grows in the region of Beja, Alentejo and blooms in March and April. Occurs preferentially in grain fields of wheat and oats with low human intervention in under-covered with olive trees or riding the berms and alleys. CAUSES OF EXTINCTION: Use of herbicides as a result of intensive agriculture, I and ntense pasturing has contributed decisively to a sharp population decline.

NAME OF SPECIES: Common: Mondego narciso’s Scientific: Narcissus scaberulus CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: This species usually occurs in open areas and forest clearings, and only in granitic substrates The flowering period is very short, from February to April depending on weather conditions GEOGRAPHY: It lies in the Mondego River Basin. CAUSES OF EXTINCTION:. A possible cause of the extinction of that is the extent of the forest that changes the conditions of light soil

NAME OF SPECIES: Common: Myosotis-of-Beaches Scientific: Omphalodes kuzinskyanae CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: There remain nine settlements, restricted to an area of ​​ about 5.2 hectares. The population trend is very marked regression. GEOGRAPHY: The plant is endemic of the nature reserve Sintra-Cascais CAUSES OF EXTINCTION:. The major reasons are the construction of buildings and landfills and trampling caused by the opening of roads and rise of human pressures

NAME OF SPECIES: Common: Algarve diabelha Scientific: Plantago algarbiensis CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIES: Plants perennial. The leaves are linear and sharp. GEOGRAPHY: The Algarve Diabelha know only three nuclei, which occupy 50 hectare and is one of those entered in the Site of Community Importance Barrocal. The known population does not exceed ten thousand individuals CAUSES OF EXTINCTION:. The major reasons are the construction of buildings and landfills and trampling caused by the opening of roads and rise of human pressures

Bibliography 1A853CC755E6/2922/Animais_extincao.pdf