Vulnerable species are at risk of becoming extinct in the wild or extinct. The IUCN currently identifies over 10,000 species as vulnerable. For a species to be considered vulnerable it must meet any of the following criteria:
Population Reduction
- A taxon’s population size is reduced by 50 percent or more over 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer, and scientists understand that the reduction causes are reversible and have stopped. For example, let’s pretend there is a bird species that traditionally had a population of 2000. Over 10 years, it drops to 1000 because a logging company demolished its habitat. If lawmakers establish regulations that bar the logging company from continuing to fell trees in the area, then the IUCN will list the bird species as “endangered” because they understand the reason for the decline, and it is stopped.
- A taxon’s population size is reduced by 30 percent or more over 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer. However, conservationists don’t understand the reduction cause or know if it is reversible. For example, let’s say there is a bird species that traditionally had a population size of 2000. Over 10 years, it drops to 1400. Scientists, however, can’t figure out why they’re dying off. In this case, the IUCN would list it as “endangered” because the decimation is evident, but it can’t figure out why.
- A taxon’s population size is reduced by 30 percent or more over 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer, and the animal is also battling habitat shrinkage or another threat.
Geographic Reduction
The area where a species can live is reduced to 20,000 square kilometers or less, or the area where it currently and actually occupies is reduced to 2,000 square kilometers, and at least two of the following criteria are also true:
- The population is not known to exist at more than 10 locations.
- Scientists observe or predict that the habitat in question will continue to shrink or be degraded, and there’s also a decline in subpopulations or the number of reproducing adults.
- Scientists observe extreme fluctuations in the number of locations, subpopulations, or the number of reproducing adults.
Dangerously Low Number of Adults
- A taxon’s population only has 10,000 or fewer adults left, and a 10 percent decline is anticipated within 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer. If none of the taxon’s subpopulations contain more than 1,000 adults, or all the adults live in one subpopulation.
- Scientists observe extreme fluctuations in the number of mature adults in a taxon’s population.
Dangerously Low Overall Population Size
Only 1,000 or fewer individuals of a taxon remain.
A population with a viable but restricted habitat area is vulnerable to human activities within a very short period and thus may become critically endangered or extinct in the near future.
Expected Rapid Decline
Research indicates that there’s a 10 percent or greater chance that the taxon will be extinct in the wild within 100 years
Vulnerable Species
The first image of an African golden cat was captured in the wild in Gabon in 2002.
One got to be 255 years old!
Has the longest tongue of any animal in relation to its body size!
More aoudad sheep live in the United States than in their original North African habitat.
Wolves do not howl at the moon. They howl to communicate with other members of their pack.
Asian carp can consume 40% of their body weight in food a day!
It mainly eats mangos and coffee!
One of the most popular food fishes in the world
The babirusa is the only mammal with vertically growing canine teeth!
“Sings” a whale song during breeding season.
Markings give it camouflage!
Beauty Rat Snakes are relatively harmless if left undisturbed, only attempting to bite out of fear.
Live in bamboo forests 15,000 feet above sea level
In Australia, the chocolate bilby replaces the chocolate bunny for Easter.
Also known as the Asian Bearcat!
Usambara vine snakes sit perfectly still and sway in the wind like a stick.
They move in and out of mangrove swamps with the tides.
One of the most commonly-encountered sharks
Boas are considered primitive snakes and still have vestigial legs, called spurs.
This reptile has an S-shaped neck allowing it to pull its entire head into its shell.
The bull trout is not actually a trout, but a member of the char family.
These snakes can swallow their prey as whole.
Found close to marshes, streams and lakes!
The bushmaster’s scientific name means “silent death.”
Cantils heads are marked with bright white lines on each side of their heads.
Named after Capuchin friars.
Males and females grow antlers
The fastest land mammal in the world!
Juvenile Chinese cobras have the ability to start hunting almost from the moment they hatch from the eggs.
Has canines that can be two inches long!
Several medicines have been created using cobra venom.
Highly social, smart, and chatty bird.
The largest terrestrial arthropod in the world
Codfish are carnivorous and eat other fish, including young codfish.
The coelacanth first evolved almost 400 million years ago.
They are intelligent and noisy, often mimicking sounds and learning vocabulary.
There are over 80 species of coral snake worldwide.
The crested gecko can walk on glass and even has a prehensile tail.
Has long yellow eyebrows!
Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together
Crocodylomorphs include extinct ancient species as well as 26 living species today.
While very intimidating, the cubera snapper also falls prey to other marine animals like barracudas, whale sharks, and moray eels.
Camouflages itself as a dead leaf!
Roughly 60 different species of deer mice range from Canada to Central America!
The desert rain frog doesn't hop
Some species can change color from dark to light, and back again.
Digs burrows in river banks to rest!
Majestic underwater bird like fish
Digs funnel-shaped holes in search of insects
When injured or damaged, the shell of the eastern box turtle can regenerate
They are friendly and non-aggressive to those in their species.
Frightening this goat will cause it to fall over in fear!
Finches have strong, conical bills that help them break open tough seeds that many other birds cannot.
Some emit noxious defense chemicals
Gaboon vipers are the largest vipers in Africa.
The biggest species of tortoise in the world!
Armadillos have a smell that’s described as strong, sweet and acrid.
Can reach nearly 4ft in length!
Bamboo makes up 99 per cent of their diet!
While flying high above this owl can hear a mouse moving in the tall grass of field!
The golden mole is so named because of its iridescent coat, which gives it a shining, rainbow-like effect.
The goonch catfish, or giant devil catfish, is one of the most fierce freshwater fish.
It is the only species of tortoise native to Florida.
A mix between a goat and an antelope
Can grow to more than 8 meters long!
This shark has the longest lifespan of any vertebrate.
Ground squirrels are adept excavators and can dig colonial burrows larger than football fields!
The haddock is very popular in both recreational and commercial fishing
People enjoy the taste of the oily fish in many different ways including pickled, smoked, salted, dried and fermented.
Has pink anti-bacterial sweat!
Hooded seal pups are called bluebacks because the color of the fur on their back is blue-gray. This pretty color made people want to make fur coats out of them and made them a target for hunters.
The bird has a massive horn on its bill!
Sleep with one foot tucked up under the wing so they lean to the side
Found on the South American coast!
The Hyacinth Macaw is the largest flying parrot in the world!
Can jump over 6 feet straight up from a standstill
Popular in the exotic pet trade!
When a Jamaican boa is coiled up, it almost looks like two snakes together because of color pattern.
Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies
They are the longest venomous snake in the world.
The kodkod is among the smallest species of cats in the entire world
Only found on five Indonesian islands
Kowaris do not drink or take water; all they get is the water content in their diet.
They are the largest living turtle and the only sea turtle without a hard shell!
Lives in small groups called prides!
Also known as the Oriental Civet!
Some of the smallest and most brightly colored frogs in the world
Adult marine iguanas vary in size depending on the size of the island where they live.
The ocean sunfish is the biggest bony fish in the world
Dense underfur means they don’t need blubber to stay warm
Oenpelli pythons are unusually thin for a python.
Inhabits dark underwater caves
One of the oldest commercially harvested fish
Oregon spotted frogs are the most endangered frogs in Canada!
The ovenbird is named for its unusual nest, which is shaped like an oven!
Paddlefish have existed since the Cretaceous Period
The parrotfish can change from female to male at some point in its life.
They can jump up to 10 centimeters (40 times their body size) and see the full rainbow spectrum of light, including UV.
Could be extinct within the next 30 years!
The porbeagle is one of the few sharks that jumps out of the water
They can carry items with their tail.
Female pythons lay eggs and defend them until they hatch.
Makes runways through the long grasses!
Grey reef sharks can give birth without males
The river jack snake has a gigantic horn-like scale on the tip of its nose.
Can reach speeds of 20mph!
Known by at least five different names
Fast billfish with a sail-like dorsal fin
Male sambars will compete for mates by clashing together with their antlers
The sand tiger is the shark most commonly seen in aquariums.
Some sandpipers can migrate more than 8,000 miles without stopping!
Parents use low calls to tell their chicks to freeze and lie still when danger lurks.
Adults greet each other by clattering their bills together.
The Sichuan takin is a national treasure in China and shares part of its range with the giant panda!
Has an extremely acute sense of hearing
Congregate in large groups during annual migrations
Unlike other big cats, snow leopards don’t roar.
One of the largest owl species in the world!
The southern hognose snake has an upturned snout that enables it to dig through the soil.
Found in ocean waters worldwide!
Some cultures in Africa believe the sulcata tortoise is an intermediary between the people and their ancestors and gods.
The smallest species of bear in the world!
Can get used to and respond to human voice
The average lifespan of these strange creatures is 5 to 10 years; however, tailless whip scorpions have been known to live up to a whopping 15 years in captivity!
The takin can leap some 6 feet through the air
These tiny yet intelligent monkeys often give birth to fraternal twins.
More than 1000 species of tarantulas have been identified all around the world!
Its genus dates back to the Cretaceous period – 113 million years ago
The oldest recorded teddy bear hamster was six and a half.
Hedgeho-like nocturnal insectivore
Ironically, Timor pythons have never been found on the island of Timor.
It’s the only macropod that lives in trees.
Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.
Have a very short tail for their size!
Migrates up and down the mountains!
Urials are the ancestors of modern-day domesticated sheep.
Spiny-tailed lizards "sneeze" out salt!
Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most
Featured in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
White Sharks live in all of the world's oceans.
They don't have any teeth!
The Xingu River ray is only found in the Xingu River in Brazil.
Vulnerable Species List
Conservation Status Lists
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.