Done but not dusted: Reflections on the first global reptile assessment and priorities for the second.

The IUCN recently coordinated the first assessment of extinction risk of the world's reptile species. This monumental undertaking allows, for the first time, an examination of threats and prioritization of conservation effort, not just for reptiles, but for land vertebrates as a whole. Reptiles are now the largest class of land vertebrates in terms of species numbers. The dynamic nature of reptile taxonomy, the 18 years it took for the Global Reptile Assessment to be completed, the poor state of knowledge for many species – especially of squamates – and the evolving nature of threats, however, all highlight the need for continued monitoring of reptile species and threats. Here we review the status of reptile conservation assessments, and identify the challenges facing the next reptile assessments. We then recommend potential avenues that could facilitate efficient, accurate and timely future assessments. • The first Global Reptile assessment only covers ~85 % of species currently recognized • Newly described reptiles, Data Deficient species and species that underwent taxonomic splitting after they were assessed require new dedicated studies to correctly assess their conservation status • Small ranged species and species not observed for lengthy periods of time need to be carefully assessed in the future • The effects of climate change and future land use changes need to be well integrated into assessments • approaches to measuring Red List criteria need to be diversified, population trends, generation length and projected declines should increasingly be used [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]