IN EEL TROUBLE

FROM a psychedelic tarantula to one of Earth's rarest primates, conservationists are highlighting some of the extraordinary but highly threatened wildlife they aim to help in 2026.

- BY EMILY BEAMENT

Fauna & Flora's 10 species to watch in 2026 includes the critically endangered European eel, extremely venomous vipers, and a guitarfish which looks like it's been sewn together from two different species.

Kristian Teleki, chief executive of the international charity, said time was running out to save "truly extraordinary" species, with severe pressures on nature and populations declining rapidly.

The annual species to watch list indicates the key challenges facing some of the world's most at-risk species, and the people working to protect them. Fauna & Flora's 10 species to watch in 2026 are:

■Saint Lucia fer de lance is a highly venomous viper, but although it is widely feared, it is not aggressive and faces a risk of extinction, so conservationists are working to improve local understanding of it.