"Extinct" and "Endangered" are terms that frequently appear in discussions about biodiversity and conservation, yet their meanings are often confused. Albert and Darian are working together on a big school project that's due soon, focusing on species at risk.
As they review their work, Darian says, "The Black Rhino is extinct." But Albert shakes his head and replies, "Not yet—it's endangered." This leaves Darian confused. Aren't "extinct" and "endangered" the same thing? So, will you help Darian clear up his confusion? In this article, we'll take a look at the difference between endangered and extinct.
What is the difference between Endangered and Extinct Species?
The core difference between an Endangered species and an Extinct species is about presence and potential.
- An Endangered species is a type of plant or animal that is still alive but has a very small population. Because its numbers are so low, it is in immediate danger of completely disappearing from the world forever. The focus for this species is urgent protection and recovery.
- An Extinct species is one where the last living individual has died. The species no longer exists anywhere on Earth, in the wild or in captivity. For this species, there is no chance of recovery; the loss is final.
In a Nutshell
Feature | Endangered Species (EN) | Extinct Species (EX) |
Current Status | Still exists. There are living individuals (though few). | Does not exist. The last individual has died. |
Population | The population is severely reduced and in decline, facing a high risk of total extinction. | The population is zero and irreversible. |
Conservation Effort | Efforts are focused on saving, protecting, and increasing the population. | Efforts are impossible for the species itself; only relics or memories remain. |
Common Examples | Siberian Tiger, Mountain Gorilla, Vaquita | Dodo Bird, Passenger Pigeon, Woolly Mammoth |
List of Animals that are Endangered
According to the World Wildlife Organisation, here's the list of the animals that are critically endangered:
Conservation Status | Common Name(s) | Scientific Name(s) |
Critically Endangered | African forest elephant | Loxodonta cyclotis |
Amur Leopard | Panthera pardus orientalis | |
Black Rhino | Diceros bicornis | |
Bornean Orangutan | Pongo pygmaeus | |
Cross River Gorilla | Gorilla gorilla diehli | |
Eastern Lowland Gorilla | Gorilla beringei graueri | |
Hawksbill Turtle | Eretmochelys imbricata | |
Javan Rhino | Rhinoceros sondaicus | |
Orangutan | Pongo abelii, Pongo pygmaeus | |
Saola | Pseudoryx nghetinhensis | |
Sumatran Elephant | Elephas maximus sumatranus | |
Sumatran Orangutan | Pongo abelii | |
Sumatran Rhino | Dicerorhinus sumatrensis | |
Sunda Tiger | Panthera tigris sondaica | |
Vaquita | Phocoena sinus | |
Western Lowland Gorilla | Gorilla gorilla gorilla | |
Yangtze Finless Porpoise | Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ssp. asiaeorientalis | |
Endangered | African savanna elephant | Loxodonta africana africana |
African Wild Dog | Lycaon pictus | |
Asian Elephant | Elephas maximus indicus | |
Black-footed Ferret | Mustela nigripes | |
Blue Whale | Balaenoptera musculus | |
Bluefin Tuna | Thunnus Thynnus | |
Bonobo | Pan paniscus | |
Bornean Elephant | Elephas maximus borneensis | |
Chimpanzee | Pan troglodytes | |
Fin Whale | Balaenoptera physalus | |
Galápagos Penguin | Spheniscus mendiculus | |
Ganges River Dolphin | Platanista gangetica gangetica | |
Green Turtle | Chelonia mydas | |
Hector's Dolphin | Cephalorhynchus hectori | |
Humphead Wrasse | Cheilinus undulatus | |
Indian Elephant | Elephas maximus indicus | |
Indus River Dolphin | Platanista minor | |
Irrawaddy Dolphin | Orcaella brevirostris | |
Monarch Butterfly | Danaus plexippus | |
Mountain Gorilla | Gorilla beringei beringei | |
North Atlantic Right Whale | Eubalaena glacialis | |
Red Panda | Ailurus fulgens | |
Sea Lions | Zalophus wollebaeki | |
Sea Turtle | Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae families | |
Sei Whale | Balaenoptera borealis | |
Sri Lankan Elephant | Elephas maximus maximus | |
Tiger | Panthera tigris | |
Whale | Balaenoptera, Balaena, Eschrichtius, and Eubalaen | |
Whale Shark | Rhincodon typus | |
Vulnerable | Bigeye Tuna | Thunnus obesus |
Black Spider Monkey | Ateles paniscus | |
Cheetah | Acinonyx jubatus | |
Dugong | Dugong dugon | |
Giant Panda | Ailuropoda melanoleuca | |
Giant Tortoise | Chelonoidis sp. | |
Great White Shark | Carcharodon carcharias | |
Greater One-Horned Rhino | Rhinoceros unicornis | |
Hippopotamus | Hippopotamus amphibius | |
Leatherback Turtle | Dermochelys coriacea | |
Lion | Panthera Leo | |
Loggerhead Turtle | Caretta caretta | |
Marine Iguana | Amblyrhynchus cristatus | |
Olive Ridley Turtle | Lepidochelys olivacea | |
Polar Bear | Ursus maritimus | |
Snow Leopard | Panthera uncia | |
Southern rockhopper penguin | Eudyptes chrysocome | |
Near Threatened | Albacore Tuna | Thunnus alalunga |
Beluga | Delphinapterus leucas | |
Greater Sage-Grouse | Centrocercus urophasianus | |
Jaguar | Panthera onca | |
Mountain Plover | Charadrius montanus | |
Plains Bison | Bison bison bison | |
White Rhino | Ceratotherium simum | |
Yellowfin Tuna | Thunnus albacares | |
Least Concern | Arctic Fox | Vulpes lagopus |
Arctic Wolf | Canis lupus arctos | |
Beaver | Castor canadensis | |
Bowhead Whale | Balaena mysticetus | |
Brown Bear | Ursus arctos | |
Common Bottlenose Dolphin | Tursiops truncates | |
Gray Whale | Eschrichtius robustus | |
Macaw | Ara ararauna | |
Narwhal | Monodon monoceros | |
Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | |
Skipjack Tuna | Katsuwonus pelamis | |
Swift Fox | Vulpes velox | |
Tree Kangaroo | Dendrolagus sp. |
What is the difference between Endangered and Vulnerable Species?
The difference between an Endangered species and a Vulnerable species is simply the severity of the threat they face and the immediacy of their risk of extinction.
Both terms are categories used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to classify species that are "Threatened." The difference is a matter of degree, with Endangered being the more severe status.
Status | Simple Explanation | Risk Level |
Endangered (EN) | This species is in immediate and very high danger of becoming extinct in the wild. Its numbers or habitat size are very small, or its population has dropped extremely fast. Urgent, intensive action is required. | Very High Risk of Extinction |
Vulnerable (VU) | This species is at a high risk of becoming endangered in the medium-term future. While not in immediate crisis, it faces serious threats (like habitat loss) that will lead to a worse status if conservation action is not taken. | High Risk of Extinction |
Examples of Endangered vs. Vulnerable Species
Conservation Status | Common Name | Scientific Name |
Endangered (EN) | Blue Whale | Balaenoptera musculus |
Tiger | Panthera tigris | |
Chimpanzee | Pan troglodytes | |
Vulnerable (VU) | Giant Panda | Ailuropoda melanoleuca |
Cheetah | Acinonyx jubatus | |
Polar Bear | Ursus maritimus |
What is the difference between Endangered and Threatened Species?
The distinction between "Endangered" and "Threatened" is fundamentally about the severity and immediacy of the extinction risk a species faces.
Definition: Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)
In the United States, the legal definitions provided by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 are precise and highlight the difference in risk level:
Category | Definition of Risk | Status |
Endangered (E) | A species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. | Immediate and Critical Risk |
Threatened (T) | A species is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. | High but Foreseeable Risk |
In this context, being threatened is the step before being endangered. A threatened species still requires protection, but its population levels or habitat situation are slightly less dire than those of an Endangered species.
Definition Under the IUCN Red List (Global Standard)
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) utilises the Red List of Threatened Species, the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
Under the IUCN framework, the term "Threatened Species" is actually a broad umbrella group encompassing three different risk categories:
- Critically Endangered (CR): Extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future.
- Endangered (EN): Very high risk of extinction in the near future.
- Vulnerable (VU): High risk of extinction in the medium-term future.
Therefore, for the IUCN, an Endangered species is a type of Threatened species, along with Critically Endangered and Vulnerable species.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the list of critically endangered and endangered species serves as an urgent reminder of the biodiversity crisis we face. The fate of these animals—from the Vaquita to the Cross River Gorilla—rests heavily on human intervention.
We can collectively drive change by prioritising habitat preservation, supporting ethical conservation organisations, and making sustainable consumer choices. Simple daily actions, such as reducing our carbon footprint, eliminating single-use plastics, and planting native species, help maintain the vital ecosystems these species need to thrive.
By embracing global cooperation and recognising that their survival is linked to our own planetary health, we move from merely documenting decline to actively guaranteeing a future where all wildlife can flourish.
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