Endangered species

:For other uses, see endangered species (disambiguation).

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An endangered species is a species whose population is so small that it is in danger of becoming extinct. Many countries have laws offering special protection to these species (forbidding hunting, banning development, etc. of their habitats ) to prevent their extinction. Only a few of the many truly endangered species actually make it to the lists and obtain legal protection. Many more species become extinct, or potentially will become extinct, without gaining public notice.

Related Topics:
Species - Extinct - Law - Hunting - Habitats

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Many of these laws are controversial. Typical areas of controversy include: criteria for placing a species on the endangered species list, and criteria for removing a species from the list once its population has recovered; whether restrictions on land development constitute a "taking" of land by the government, and the related question of whether private landowners should be compensated for the loss of use of their land; and obtaining reasonable exceptions to protection laws.

Related Topics:
Controversial - Government

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A listing as an endangered species can backfire, as it makes a species more valuable and more desirable for collectors and poachershttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4013719.stm.

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The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that endangered species continuing to survive. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation status of a species: not simply the number remaining, but the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, known threats, and so on.

Related Topics:
Conservation status - Species

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The best-known worldwide conservation status listing is the IUCN Red List, but many more specialized lists exist.

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The following conservation status categories are used in articles in this encyclopedia. They are loosely based on the IUCN categories.

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• Extinct: the last remaining member of the species had died, or is presumed to have died beyond reasonable doubt. Examples: Thylacine, Dodo.
• Extinct in the wild: captive individuals survive, but there is no free-living, natural population. Examples: Dromedary, Przewalski's Horse.
• Critical or critically endangered: faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future. Examples: Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Arakan Forest Turtle
• Endangered: faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future. Examples: Kings holly, Pink fairy armadillo
• Vulnerable: faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term. Examples: Cheetah, Bactrian Camel
• Secure or lower risk: no immediate threat to the survival of the species. Examples: Nootka Cypress, Llama

The following lists are examples of endangered species. Note that because of varying standards for regarding a species as endangered, and the very large number of endangered species, these lists should not be regarded as comprehensive.

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Endangered species: Endangered mammals ►