These three corals are located around the Galápagos, an archipelago of volcanic islands west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. The Galápagos Islands were made famous from the scientific studies of Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Corals are marine animals that exist in sea colonies. They are included in the class Anthozoa, which is within the phylum Cnidaria that contains corals and sea anemones. Some coral members of the class build reefs in tropical oceans, which are popular tourist attractions.

According to the IUCN report, “Corals have been assessed and added to the IUCN Red List for the very first time. Ten Galápagos species have entered the list, with two in the Critically Endangered category and one in the Vulnerable category. Wellington’s Solitary Coral (Rhizopsammia wellingtoni) has been listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct). The main threats to these species are the effects of El Niño and climate change.”

The IUCN, also called the World Conservation Union, is an international organization committed to the conservation of natural resources. It is headquartered in Switzerland. The Red List is a comprehensive study of marine life, which is sponsored by the Conservation International (CI). The IUCN Species Survival Commission, which consists of about 7,000 members, produces the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Its mission is the protection of the world’s species.

Within the report, Holly Dublin, chairperson of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission, said: “Conservation networks dedicated to fighting the extinction crisis, such as the Species Survival Commission, are working effectively. But much more help and support is needed as environmentalists cannot do it alone. The challenge of the extinction crisis also requires attention and action from the general public, the private sector, governments and policy makers to ensure that global biodiversity remains intact for generations to come.”


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