A critically endangered (CR) species is one which has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. It is the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN Red List for wild species.
As of 2014, there are 2464 animal and 2104 plant species with this assessment, compared with 1998 levels of 854 and 909, respectively.
As the IUCN Red List does not consider a species extinct until extensive, targeted surveys have been conducted, species which are possibly extinct are still listed as critically endangered. IUCN maintains a list of "possibly extinct" CR(PE) and "possibly extinct in the wild" CR(PEW) species, modelled on categories used by BirdLife International to categorize these taxa.
International Union for Conservation of Nature definition
To be defined as critically endangered in the Red List, a species must meet any of the following criteria (Aâ€"E) ("3G/10Y" signifies three generations or ten yearsâ€"whichever is longerâ€"over a maximum of 100 years; "MI" signifies Mature Individuals):
- A: Occurring over less than 100 km² and two of:
- 1. Severe habitat fragmentation or existing at just one location
-
- 2. Decline in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, area/extent/quality of habitat, number of locations/subpopulations, or amount of MI.
-
- 3. Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of locations/subpopulations, or amount of MI.
- B: As above, but less than 10 km² (used to show differing levels of severity).
- C: Declining population of less than 250 MI and either:
- 1. A decline of 25% over 3G/10Y;
-
- 2. Extreme fluctuations, or over 90% of MI in a single subpopulation, or no more than 50 MI in any one subpopulation.
- D: Numbers less than 50 MI.
- E: At least 50% chance of going Extinct in the Wild over 3G/10Y.
Also look at
- Lists of IUCN Red List Critically Endangered species for lists ordered by taxonomic rank.
- Category:IUCN Red List critically endangered species for an alphabetical list
- The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates
- The world's 100 most threatened species
- IUCN for additional information on the IUCN
- List of critically endangered amphibians
- List of critically endangered arthropods
- List of critically endangered birds
- List of critically endangered fish
- List of critically endangered insects
- List of critically endangered invertebrates
- List of critically endangered mammals
- List of critically endangered molluscs
- List of critically endangered plants
- List of critically endangered reptiles
- List of Chromista by conservation status
- List of fungi by conservation status
Notes
References
- List of Critically Endangered Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
External links
- The Criteria for Critically Endangered, IUCN