It is probable that people will speak of crocodiles, tortoise and snakes in near future the same way we speak of dinosaurs today. According to the journal nature reports, many reptiles are endangered. A fifth of all reptile species - over 1,800 - are danger of extinction, while 31 species have already vanished permanently. 

The report gave an analysis that tortoise and crocodiles are much higher in risk of getting endangered. While the untold fact is that there are even more than 100 species which are not examined or yet to be discovered by the scientist. Each year, studies by researchers discovers about 100 new reptile species, which means some species goes extinct before it has been discovered.

Understanding the Reptiles

Reptiles are those amazing cold-blooded animals that contribute to the ecosystem's health and have inspired medical and engineering advances. The reptiles can often be confused with amphibians, as both the amphibians and reptiles have similar appearances. Similarly, amphibians tend to be more closely associate with water, though a number of reptiles also lover water (such as the Chinese water dragon, aquatic turtles and water snakes. The difference is that amphibians have smooth and moist skin, while the reptiles have dry scales. 
Reptiles make up many of the world's interesting creatures, including the colorful chameleon, and the oldest living land animal Jonathan the  tortoise ( he is about 190 years old). It is  also no wonder that reptiles are evolutionary marvels. The viper snakes, for instance can detect infrared radiation, allowing them to find warm bodies prey. Meanwhile, the crocodiles have scales with built-in motion sensors. 
Despite being a massively understudied group, scientist knows reptiles play a significant role in the environment.

What is really posing threat to the Reptiles?

Every move by the humans from urban development to the expansion of farm land is posing great threat to the reptiles including other wildlife in the planet. The recent study has highlighted the reasons and its causes behind its danger of extinction.
As per the BBC report, the study authors at the news conference have revealed that about 1800 species of reptiles (21%) are in danger, which is more than birds but lesser than amphibians and mammals. This  threat is throughout the globe, but the risk is much higher in regions like Southeast Asia, West Africa, Northern Madagascar, the Northern Andes and the Caribbean. 
This threats are mainly happening due to habitat loss by urbanization, climate change and human behavior. Many turtles and crocodiles species are mostly at risk, humans are constantly exploiting the environment by plundering the most mined material on Earth i.e. sand , humans use sand to make products like cement and glass, but turtles and crocodiles need it to rest. Not only that, humans are also exploiting these animals for their skins and meat. 
The study authors further revealed that in the event of the extinction of all reptile species on the planet, 15.6 genetic variation on the tree of life would be lost.

Globally, geckos are threatened by wildlife trade



Due to human encroachment and deforestation, the venomous king cobra is declining

Human conflict threatens the mugger crocodile's habitat


Saving the Reptiles has a way

Despite alarming headline figures, the study authors have also revealed something positive, efforts to protect mammals, birds and amphibians, such as setting up protected area can also benefit reptiles.
As a result of protecting the places where many threatened birds, mammals and amphibians live, you will also protect much more threatened reptiles than you expect by chance, says an expert. 
However, taking actions on these issues will affect how the world tackles the challenges of reducing the extinction risk threatening more than one million species, eliminating billions of dollars of environmentally damaging government subsidies and restoring degraded ecosystem for decades to come.