Why does the combination of limited range and fossorial life place *Bipes biporus* in a precarious conservation position?
Answer
Localized habitat changes can eliminate a breeding population without visible external signs
The creature's conservation status is magnified by the confluence of two major factors: its extremely limited endemic range in southern Baja California Sur and its subterranean, cryptic lifestyle. Because it lives entirely underground, subtle but destructive changes to the soil structure—such as erosion, changes in soil composition, or disruption from heavy machinery use—can eradicate local populations entirely. These localized eliminations might occur without any broader, easily observable environmental collapse visible on the desert surface, making early detection of threats exceptionally difficult.
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