Be fair to ugly guys/gals

This is half a month old but seems not many in the blogsphere take notice in this yet. It is common phenomenon that conservation efforts (and budgets) are mostly given to cute animals. But let's face this, the most ecologically important species are not necessarily appealing to us human.

On 31st January the Independent composed a (not complete) list of species which are at the brink of distinction and needs more attention.

Below are some illustrated descriptions of these ugly-but-need-care species. Without other specification, the photos are from Wikimedia Commons.


# solenodon
Looks like another endangered species _Zaglossus bruijni_, but has fur looks like need a good wash.

# Aye-Aye

# Giant Salamander
A picture is here, Chinese people are relatively more familiar to this amphibian.
# Saiga Antelope
Not so ugly, right?

# Myers' Surinam Toad
Even can be considered as ugly among toads, it is endangered due to habitat loss. An image can be find here.
# Long-beaked echidna
I just mentioned them. But they are of a different genus from solenodon. "One of the most evolutionary distinct animal" in the world -- quoting Dr. Baillie on the Independent.

# Northern hairy-nosed Wombat
See the Independent's report: for the picture.
# Phoenix Fly
It has got such a common name that it is very difficult to find a picture of this fly on the web. According to the Independent, it looks like an larger version of housefly, and likes the so-called brown-field as the habitat. The acclaimed brown-field reclamation project may be endangering this species, as well as wide use of pesticides.
# Mole Cricket
Again Chinese people in North China are quite familiar with it, which has been considered as a pest, and arguably is. The UK population is possibly gone. Do not know how they coped with fertilisers and pesticides in China.

# Glutinous snail
Possibly the only "healthy population" in the UK is in Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala) in Snowdonia. Endangered by pollution. An image is here.