Species

Early amphibians were the first animals to leave the sea and venture onto land, forming a key evolutionary bridge from fish to terrestrial reptiles. A class of animals that includes frogs, toads, and salamanders, amphibians are indicator species — that is, the health of a region’s amphibian population indicates the health of the ecosystem in general. In recent decades there has been a dramatic decline in amphibian populations around the globe.

All 100,000+ species of birds are warm-blooded, lay eggs, and have feathers and wings — though not all can fly. In general, birds are highly social and communicative creatures, and are widely considered to be among the more intelligent animal species. Birds feature prominently in Endangered Species Act success stories — iconic species like the bald eagle and California condor have rebounded significantly while protected under the Act.

There are about 28,000 fish species in the world, all of which are aquatic, cold-blooded, covered in scales and breathe through gills. Fish populations are in perilous decline across the planet, primarily from overfishing and habitat loss and degradation. Introduction of non-native species is also a major threat — the yellowfin cutthroat trout, once plentiful in Colorado’s high country, went extinct with the introduction of rainbow trout to its native habitat.

Of the 1.5 million identified species in the world, invertebrates make up a staggering 97%. Lacking an internal skeleton made of bone, invertebrates take on an amazing array of shapes and sizes and inhabit every corner of the globe. These species fill critical niches — they provide food for countless animals higher up on the food chain, pollinate most flowering plants, and recycle dead matter into biologically-usable materials.

Mammals are characterized by the presence of mammary (milk) glands to feed their young, generally give live birth, and are at least partially covered by hair. Mammals of the Southern Rockies are well-adapted to live in the often-harsh conditions of our region, but habitat loss and degradation is now happening at an unprecedented rate, and some species are struggling to adjust.

Plants are an incredibly diverse class of organisms that includes towering redwood trees, single-celled algae, and everything in between. Many plants perform the critical process of photosynthesis, which converts carbon dioxide and sunlight into food for a wide array of other creatures, including humans. Plants are also an important source of medicine and fuel, help filter our air and water, and are critical in regulating our climate.