The world's deserts, most famously the Sahara, are an underrated source of biodiversity. But the unforgiving landscape has been largely overlooked by conservation efforts in favor of natural "hotspots" like rainforests, according to a recent research paper, "Fiddling in biodiversity hotspots while deserts burn? Collapse of the Sahara's megafauna." As a result, many sand species - in particularly large mammals -- have suffered.

Deserts cover 17 percent of the world's land mass, and, in terms of biodiversity, compare similarly to forests overall, according to the paper. (On a smaller scale, however, forests tend to accommodate more life). Twenty five percent of all terrestrial vertebrates make their home in deserts, including iconic mammals such as the Scimitar horned ox (now existing only in captivity), and critically endangered species such as the addax, dama gazelle, and Saharan cheetahs. Of the 14 species and subspecies (mostly large mammals) assessed by researchers from the Zoological Society of London and the Wildlife Conservation Society, 12 were either considered to be extinct or near extinction by the IUCN. Thirteen were no longer found in 66 percent of their previous habitat and 12 were gone from 90 percent of their previous habitat. Seven were considered extinct or relegated to just 1 percent of their historical range.

Researchers cited widespread hunting for the alarming numbers, but also cling to the notion that a lack of scientific attention allowed the species to decline in relative anonymity. Just 9 percent of all major research projects in ecology from 2000 to 2011 focused on deserts. Thirty one papers dedicated themselves to the Sahara during this period and almost none of them ventured into its central regions. Deserts received just 12 percent of Global Environment Facility funding from 1991-2009, a paltry figure considering the Sahara alone covers 43 percent of the African continent, according to the paper.

Besides preserving earth's natural environment and all the benefits connected to that pursuit, another gain from protecting one of the harshest environments in the world is learning how its inhabitants survive, according to the paper. As the world's climate changes and resources become more limited, studying how desert species navigate extreme conditions could lead to real life applications.

Recently, the researchers note, conservation efforts have increased. Niger sectioned off 60,000 square miles of reserve that will cover 150 of the remaining 200 wild addax (also known as the white anteloupe) on earth as well as protect dama gazelle and cheetahs, according to National Geographic. The Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve in Chad is attempting to re-introduce the scimitar hornex ox back into the wild.