🔬 The biodiversity crisis is immense, and it's essential to target our conservation efforts where they'll have the most impact. This leads to the big question - which species do we prioritize?

The EDGE of Existence program steps in with a nifty solution. It identifies animal species most in need of conservation based on two criteria:

• Evolutionary Distinctness: Does the species have few or no close relatives, making it a member of a tiny family tree (clade)?
• Global Endangerment: Is the species facing extinction, because all of its remaining populations are under threat?

💡 Picture this like a "biodiversity hit-list". This program identifies species that are both Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE). Those that make the list get more attention and conservation efforts. Some of these species are the last in a line that has existed for millions of years. So, if they go extinct due to human activities, it's like losing a long-running sequel.

Red wolves, native to the southeastern United States, are caught in a classification quandary. They're somewhere between grey wolves and coyotes. The debate is whether they are a subspecies of wolf or a distinct species. Because of this confusion, they sometimes miss out on the endangered species lists, despite their critically low numbers.

Despite being listed under the US Endangered Species Act and the IUCN's critically endangered species, they don't feature on the CITES appendices. The core of the debate lies in the lack of a universally accepted species concept.