New additions added to Australia's threatened species list
A relative of the NSW waratah is among 20 new additions to Australia's threatened species list.
The Gibraltar Range waratah, also known as Telopea aspera, is endemic to the NSW New England region.
Its rough foilage and preference for dryer habitat separates it from its close relative Telopea speciosissima.
It is one of 14 plants to be added to the list along with two lizards, a sea snake, a fish and a crayfish.
The Moritz leaf-tale gecko is one of two lizards to be added to the list.
New additions to the threatened species list have been affected by factors such as invasive weeds, feral pests and habitat destruction.
Climate change continues to exacerbate other threats.
The granite leaf-tailed gecko is the second species of lizard to be included among the new additions.
The McCulloch's anemonefish is found in subtropical waters at Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.
Its existence is under threat, leading to its inclusion on the national list.
The Australian Conservation Foundation has called on more to be done to protect species such as this anemonefish.
"Every day and every decision matters for our wildlife," campaigns director Paul Sinclair said.
"Further delays to nature law reform risk more extinctions."
The Conondale spiny crayfish, also known as euastacus hystricosus, faces an uncertain future.
The species faces a high risk of extinction in the near future.
The King Island scrub complex ecosystem off Tasmania was also listed as a threatened ecological community.
Sinclair has called for greater environmental protection as the threatened species list expands.
"Australia's creeks, forests, lizards, birds, woodlands and wetlands need nature laws with teeth and a strong, independent environment protection agency to enforce them," Sinclair said.
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