DISTINCT AND ENDANGERED SPECIES:

The following selection, by no means exhaustive, presents an accurate picture of some of the most endangered animals threatened with extinction based on data from the EDGE of Existence and IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is our hope that this tool drives conservation efforts for some of the more critic al animals, so that we may not lose them when we have the means to save them.

RANK	SPECIES NAME	COMMON NAME	REGION	POPULATION	TREND	IUCN STATUS	EDGE SCORE
1	Zaglossus attenboroughi	Attenborough's Echidna, Cyclops Long-beaked Echidna	Indonesia	Unknown		CR	6.80
1	Zaglossus bartoni	Eastern Long-beaked Echidna	Indonesia	10,000		CR	6.80
1	Zaglossus bruijnii	Western Long-beaked Echidna	Indonesia	Unknown		CR	6.80
4	Mystacina robusta	New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat	New Zealand	Unknown		CR	6.78
6	Burramys parvus	Mountain Pygmy Possum, Broom's Pygmy-possum, Burramys	Australia	2,250		CR	6.29
7	Solenodon cubanus	Almiqui, Cuban Solenodon	Cuba	Unkown		EN	6.21
7	Solenodon paradoxus	Haitian Solenodon, Hispaniolan Solenodon	Haiti	Unkown		EN	6.21
9	Dicerorhinus sumatrensis	Sumatran Rhinoceros	Indonesia	220		CR	6.19
10	Bunolagus monticularis	Riverine Rabbit, Bushman Hare	South Africa	500		CR	6.13
11	Diceros bicorniss	Black Rhinoceros, Hook-lipped Rhinoceros	Africa	4,880		CR	6.09
14	Rhinoceros sondaicus	Javan Rhinoceros	Indonesia	46		CR	6.02
20	Tapirus indicus	Asian Tapir, Indian Tapir, Malay Tapir, Malayan Tapir	Indonesia	2,499		EN	5.69
39	Equus africanus	African Wild Ass	Africa	23		CR	5.30
75	Tapirus pinchaque	Mountain Tapir, Andean Tapir, Woolly Tapir	So. America	2,500		EN	5.22
258	Rhinoceros unicornis	Indian Rhinoceros, Great Indian Rhinoceros	India	2,575		VU	4.68
273	Equus grevyi	Grevy's Zebra	Africa	1,956		EN	4.60
299	Ceratotherium simum	White Rhinoceros, Square-lipped Rhinoceros	Africa	20,170		NT	4.01
1901	Equus kiang	Kiang	Asia	60,000		LC	2.53

THREATENED SPECIES OF ODD-TOED UNGULATES

Members of the order Perissodactyla, otherwise known as odd-toed ungulates, are mammals characterized by an odd number of toes and by hindgut fermentation with somewhat simple stomachs. Rounding out the top of the list for WPS are primarily rhinos, which have been under heavy pressure in the last decade as the price of rhino horn has increased dramatically on the black market.

RANK	SPECIES NAME	COMMON NAME	REGION	POPULATION	TREND	IUCN STATUS	EDGE SCORE
9	Dicerorhinus sumatrensis	Sumatran Rhinoceros	Indonesia	220		CR	6.19
11	Diceros bicorniss	Black Rhinoceros, Hook-lipped Rhinoceros	Africa	4,880		CR	6.09
14	Rhinoceros sondaicus	Javan Rhinoceros	Indonesia	46		CR	6.02
20	Tapirus indicus	Asian Tapir, Indian Tapir, Malay Tapir, Malayan Tapir	Indonesia	2,499		EN	5.69
39	Equus africanus	African Wild Ass	Africa	23		CR	5.30
75	Tapirus pinchaque	Mountain Tapir, Andean Tapir, Woolly Tapir	So. America	2,500		EN	5.22
258	Rhinoceros unicornis	Indian Rhinoceros, Great Indian Rhinoceros	India	2,575		VU	4.68
273	Equus grevyi	Grevy's Zebra	Africa	1,956		EN	4.60
299	Ceratotherium simum	White Rhinoceros, Square-lipped Rhinoceros	Africa	20,170		NT	4.01
1901	Equus kiang	Kiang	Asia	60,000		LC	2.53

THREATENED SPECIES OF EVEN-TOED UNGULATES

Members of the order Artiodactyla, typically referred to as even-toed ungulates, bear their body weight equally by the third and fourth toes. With an evolutionary history dating back 50+ million years, ungulates include a wide diversity of species. The bactrian camel, pygmy hippo, hirola, and saola are among those ungulates in crisis status, with extremely low and isolated populations.

RANK	SPECIES NAME	COMMON NAME	REGION	POPULATION	TREND	IUCN STATUS	EDGE SCORE
13	Camelus ferus	Bactrian Camel, Wild Bactrian Camel	Asia	950		CR	6.04
28	Choeropsis liberiensis	Pygmy Hippopotamus	Africa	2,000		EN	5.61
43	Beatragus hunteris	Hirola, Hunter's Antelope	Africa	200		CR	5.48
44	Pseudoryx nghetinhensis	Saola	Asia	75		CR	5.45
72	Catagonus wagneri	Chacoan Peccary, Tagua	So. America	3,200		EN	5.24
104	Sus cebifrons	Visayan Warty Pig	Asia			CR	5.07
105	Porcula salvania	Pygmy Hog	India	200		CR	5.07
126	Addax nasomaculatus	Addax	Africa	30		CR	5.01

THREATENED SPECIES OF CARNIVORES

Members of the order Carnivora include animals which live both on land and in oceans, so for simplicity we've divided them between terrestrial and marine species. Although evolutionary history has provided carnivores with teeth and claws tailored for catching and eating prey, these traits won't protect them from the threat of human encroachment, habitat loss, and hunting. Because of their predatory nature, carnivores are often in direct competition with humans for land and food resources, and thus susceptible to becoming crisis species.

RANK	SPECIES NAME	COMMON NAME	REGION	POPULATION	TREND	IUCN STATUS	EDGE SCORE
19	Ailuropoda melanoleuca	Giant Panda	Asia	500		EN	5.71
100	Viverra civettina	Malabiar Civet, Malabar Large-spotted Civet	Asia	249		CR	5.09
107	Cynogale bennettii	Otter Civet, Otter-civet, Sunda Otter Civet	Indonesia	2049		EN	5.07
107	Ailurus fulgens	Red Panda, Lesser Panda, Red Cat-bear, Tolai Hare	Asia			VU	5.06

THREATENED SPECIES OF ELEPHANTS

Members of the order Proboscidea include two species: Asian Elephants and African Elephants. African elephants are taller and weigh more than Asian elephants. Both male and females have tusks, whereas only some male Asian elephants have tusks. The most immediate threat to elephants is poachers who kill them for their tusks. Elephants are also losing their habitat and migratory routes to human settlements. This loss of space and proximity to humans creates additional conflicts.

RANK	SPECIES NAME	COMMON NAME	REGION	POPULATION	TREND	IUCN STATUS	EDGE SCORE
17	Elephas maximus	Asian Elephant	Asia	41,410		EN	5.78
383	Loxodonta africana	African Elephant	Africa	352,271		VU	4.32

THREATENED SPECIES OF PRIMATES

Members of the order Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment. Most primate species remain at least partly arboreal. With the exception of humans, who inhabit every continent, most primates live in tropical or subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa and Asia.

RANK	SPECIES NAME	COMMON NAME	REGION	POPULATION	TREND	IUCN STATUS	EDGE SCORE
29	Indri indri	Indri	Madagascar	1000		CR	5.6
30	Galagoides rondoensis	Rondo Dwarf Galago, Rondo Bushbaby	Africa	Unknown		CR	5.58
37	Varecia variegata	Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, Ruffed Lemur	Madagascar	64		CR	5.52
41	Prolemur simus	Greater Bamboo Lemur, Broad-nosed Gentle Lemur	Madagascar	500		CR	5.50

THREATENED SPECIES OF MARSUPIALS

Members of the order Marsupialia include a variety of species—all endemic to Australasia and also the Americas. A distinctive characteristic common to these species is that most of the young are carried in a pouch. Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, possums, opossums, wombats, and Tasmanian devils are all well-known marsupials.

RANK	SPECIES NAME	COMMON NAME	REGION	POPULATION	TREND	IUCN STATUS	EDGE SCORE
6	Burramys parvus	Mountain Pygmy Possum, Broom's Pygmy-possum	Australia	2250		CR	6.29
12	Lasiorhinus krefftii	Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat	Australia	80		CR	6.06
24	Ailurops melanotis	Talaud Bear Cuscus	Indonesia	Unknown		CR	5.64
31	Myrmecobius fasciatus	Numbat, Banded Anteater	Australia	800		EN	5.57

THREATENED SPECIES OF BATS

Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera. Their forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are found throughout most of the world, with the exception of extremely cold regions. They perform the vital ecological roles of pollinating flowers and dispersing fruit seeds; many tropical plant species depend entirely on bats for the distribution of their seeds. Bats are also important because they consume insect pests, reducing the need for pesticides, yet these animals are often unnecessarily vilified and killed.

RANK	SPECIES NAME	COMMON NAME	REGION	POPULATION	TREND	IUCN STATUS	EDGE SCORE
4	Mystacina robusta	New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat	New Zealand	Unknown		CR	6.78
25	Natalus jamaicensis	Jamaican Greater Funnel-eared Bat	Jamaica	50		CR	5.64
26	Coleura seychellensis	Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat	Seychelles	<100		CR	5.63
31	Aproteles bulmerae	Bulmer's Fruit Bat	New Guinea	137-160		CR	5.57

THREATENED SPECIES OF RODENTS

IUCNredlist.org/rodents

Belonging to the order Rodentia, rodents play an important role in the ecosystem; they help disperse a variety of plant species across the landscape, and serve as food for other animals, thereby sustaining many animal populations. Rodent populations are threatened in some places due to factors such as habitat loss and excess hunting of their fur. Visit the IUCN website link above to learn about threatened rodent species.

THREATENED SPECIES OF INSECTS

IUCNredlist.org/insects

Belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, insects contribute to the health of ecosystems by aerating the soil, pollinating blossoms, and controlling (other) insect and plant pests. Insects help to decompose dead plants and animals, which helps recycle nutrients back into the soil. Due to loss of habitat and other factors, survival of different insect species is threatened, from butterflies to beetles to crickets. Visit the IUCN website to learn about threatened insect species.

THREATENED SPECIES OF CETACEANS

IUCNredlist.org/cetaceans

Cetaceans are marine mammals of the order Cetacea, which includes more than 80 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. There are two main groups: Mysticeti (baleen whales) and Odontoceti (toothed whales). These air-breathing creatures primarily feed on phytoplankton, fish, and invertebrates, and help maintain a stable food chain. Most whales inhabit nutrient-rich, cold water areas but migrate to warm oceanic waters to breed. Cetaceans use vocalizations and echolocation to communicate. Underwater noise pollution and dense shipping traffic impacts is dramatically affecting their numbers. Whale hunting for blubber, rich in oil, has been another primary threat to their survival. Visit the IUCN website link above to learn about threatened cetacean species.

THREATENED SPECIES OF AMPHIBIANS

IUCNredlist.org/amphibians

Amphibians, of the class Amphibia, include frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians. Their skin is typically moist due to a think layer of mucus that covers their bodies. Amphibians are highly sensitive to pollutants from air, water, and soil. They are regarded as a sentinel species for alerting humans to imbalances in the environment. Their population numbers are declining at an alarming rate—at 10,000 times the rate of other organisms. For this reason, many scientists speculate they are on the brink of mass extinction.  Visit the IUCN website to learn about threatened amphibian species.

THREATENED SPECIES OF BIRDS

IUCNredlist.org/birds

Belonging to the phylum Chordata, many birds are important to plant reproduction for being pollinators and seed dispersers. Birds also eat insects, preventing any one species from becoming too numerous. They are also food to many other animal species, thereby contributing to the food chain. Loss of habitat, climate change, illegal animal trade, and noise and light pollution are among the factors threatening their populations. Visit the IUCN website to learn about threatened bird species.