Water vole: A small mammal that lives by rivers, it has disappeared from 90 per cent of the sites where it was previously found. Its habitat has been increasingly lost to development, and in the last few decades has been eaten by invading American mink.

Talisker burnet moth: A very rare sub-species of moth, it has only been found in four places on the Isle of Skye. It likes ungrazed, eroding grasslands by the sea, and is threatened by collectors taking larvae to sell commercially.

Slender scotch burnet moth: Another very rare moth, it has only been found at half a dozen sites on the islands of Mull and Ulva. It lives on steep south-facing slopes below coastal cliffs where the plant, common bird's-foot trefoil, is present, and is threatened by collectors taking larvae to sell commercially.

Pine hoverfly: An insect that lives in rotting Scots pine trees, it has only been found at two sites in Speyside. It is threatened by forestry practices and chemical treatment of tree stumps.

Aspen hoverfly: An insect that lives in Aspen woodlands, with maybe just 300 confined to Strathspey, Findhorn, Easter Ross, southeast Sutherland and Deeside. It is threatened by declining and fragmenting woodlands with suitable habitat.

Spiny seahorse: Living in eel grass beds around the coast, it is under threat from fishing and silt run-off from land, as well as being captured for the traditional medicine trade or for public and private aquariums.

Short-snouted seahorse: Living in rocky and weedy habitats around the cost, it is a secretive animal under threat from being captured for the traditional medicine trade or for aquariums. Scientists say it should be protected from being sold in Scotland.

Twaite shad: This fish is found in rivers flowing into the Solway Firth. It is threatened by dams and weirs preventing access to spawning grounds, and may be caught by anglers.

Rock nail: A lichen found only in millstone grit and limestone areas of Midlothian and Northumberland, it grows on rock and gravestones in humid churchyards. It is threatened by machinery, loss of shade and chemical treatment.

Tree lungwort: Found in Argyll, Wester Ross and parts of southern and eastern Scotland, this large bright green lichen grows on deciduous trees. It is threatened by air pollution, and by commercial harvesting for use in Chinese medicine.