What do Campsicnemus mirabilis, a flightless fly from Hawai’i and Gallirallus dieffenbachia, a flightless rail from New Zealand have in common?

Both are recently extinct animals #LostSpeciesDay #OnTheBrink @XrRebel @NHM_London

What do Fonseca’s seed fly Botanophila fonsecai & Antioquia Brushfinch Atlapetes blancae have in common?

Both are critically endangered endemics – and found in very restricted locations in, Scotland & Colombia, respectively. #LostSpeciesDay #OnTheBrink @XrRebel @nhm_london

What do the Beautiful-winged Fruit Fly Scaptomyza horaeoptera & Stitchbird Notiomystis cincta have in common?

Both vulnerable but stable populations & need conservation efforts to limit impact of introduced species & habitat destruction. #LostSpeciesDay #OnTheBrink @XrRebel

But why should we care about these flies, these birds etc? & all the other millions of species?

They are all part of the biodiversity & all are interconnected. Flies are important for our ecosystems to function ie nutrient recycling & pollination

#LostSpeciesDay #OnTheBrink

When we think about endangered animals – we leap straight to the mammals, birds and other vertebrates but we also need to think about the smaller charismatic creatures.

#LostSpeciesDay #OnTheBrink

#On the Brink On the 30th November 2020, not only highlights the cases of the critically endangered Pangolin and Black tailed Monkey but also the Rusty Patched Bee Bombus affinis, an endemic from North America whose population has declined 90%

#LostSpeciesDay #OnTheBrink

Increased awareness, research and conservation is necessary to highlight the situation of all the endangered species – be they a stick insect, a corpse flower or snow leopard

#LostSpeciesDay #OnTheBrink @NHM_London @XrRebel

Myself, @urbanbirder David Lindo, @BirdgirlUK Mya-Rose Craig & Gillian Burke @gillians_voice compare #OnTheBrink – an evening with @MargaretAtwood, @GhoshAmitav, & many others to raise awareness of animals at threat of extinction. #LostSpeciesDay

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/on-the-brink-tickets-128515073043