Threatened species facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conservation status by IUCN Red List category
Extinct
Extinct (EX) Extinct in the Wild (EW)	(list) (list)
Threatened
Critically Endangered (CR) Endangered (EN) Vulnerable (VU)	(list) (list) (list)
Lower Risk
Near Threatened (NT) Conservation Dependent (CD) Least Concern (LC)	(list) (list)
Other categories
Data Deficient (DD) Not Evaluated (NE)	(list)
Related topics International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) IUCN Red List NatureServe status Lists of organisms by population
Comparison of Red list classes above and NatureServe status below
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The threatened categories (IUCN Red List)

Threatened species are types of species (like animals, plants, and fungi) that are in danger of disappearing forever. This means they could soon become extinct.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a group of experts. They study and list species that are in danger. They place threatened species into three main groups, based on how much danger they are in:

• Vulnerable: These species are likely to become endangered in the future.
• Endangered: These species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
• Critically endangered: These species face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Scientists figure out how threatened a species is by looking at how many babies are born and how many individuals die. If a species has very few members left, it can reach a point where there aren't enough individuals to have babies and keep the species alive.

Some species are not yet threatened but are still watched closely. These include species that are Near Threatened or of Least Concern. The IUCN also has categories for species that have not been studied enough (Not Evaluated) or for which there isn't enough information (Data Deficient). These species are not put on the threatened list until more is known.

Threatened species are often called "red listed" species. This is because they are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This list helps people know which species need help.

What "Threatened" Means in the United States

"Threatened" in relation to "endangered" under the ESA.

In the United States, the Endangered Species Act helps protect animals and plants. Under this law, a "threatened" species is one that is likely to become endangered very soon. This applies to all or a large part of where the species lives.

For example, the Bay checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha bayensis) is a threatened species. It is protected by the Endangered Species Act. This law helps make sure these species have a chance to recover.

Related pages

• IUCN Red List

See also

In Spanish: Especie amenazada para niños