“Four million species are at a higher risk of extinction because of the evolutionary path their ancestors took. And a team of Aussie scientists has discovered when it comes to survival, size does matter.

The Griffith University experts examined 107 bark beetle species across Queensland’s wet tropics. While it’s difficult to find new types of reptile or mammal, rare and unknown insects are all around us and unsurprisingly 58 of the species they collected were yet to be described by science.

After analysing the specimens they concluded those which haven’t been described are generally significantly smaller, less abundant and less widespread. And that’s a problem for those unknown creatures, because conservationists can’t protect lifeforms that they don’t know exist…”

Source: Simple reason four million rare species are at higher risk of extinction