Nevada scientists launch journal to track ‘lost’ species

A team of international scientists, including University of Nevada, Reno entomologist Matthew Forister, has launched the Journal of Lost Species. The publication aims to document plants and animals that exist in a gray area between being endangered and extinct—species that have not been sighted for a decade or more.

In Nevada, 20 animal species have been extirpated, including the American bison and the Pyramid Lake pebblesnail. The state also faces challenges with nearly 50 species listed as endangered or threatened, and approximately 600 others with very few remaining population groupings.

The initiative seeks to address gaps in biodiversity knowledge, as researchers note that the true status of many regional species remains unknown. Noah Greenwald of the Center for Biological Diversity noted that scientists are currently warning of a broader extinction crisis.