Rare species

A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon, scarce, or infrequently encountered. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term endangered or threatened species. Designation of a rare species may be made by an official body, such as a national government, state, or province. However, the term more commonly appears without reference to specific criteria. The IUCN does not normally make such designations, but may use the term in scientific discussion.^[1]

Rarity rests on a specific species being represented by a small number of organisms worldwide, usually fewer than 10,000. However, a species having a very narrow endemic range or fragmented habitat also influences the concept.^[2] Rare species are not uncommon, since nearly 75% of known species are rare.^[3]

A species may be endangered or vulnerable, but not considered rare if—for example—it has a large, dispersed population, but its numbers are declining rapidly or predicted to do so. Rare species are generally considered threatened because a small population size is more likely to not recover from stochastic events (things that could happen).

See also

• Abundance (ecology)
• Biodiversity Action Plan
• Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii
• Common species
• Critical depensation
• Endangered Species Recovery Plan
• Rare Species Conservation Centre

References

Further reading

• Gorbunov, Y.N., Dzybov, D.S., Kuzmin, Z.E. and Smirnov, I.A. 2008. Methodological recommendations for botanic gardens on the reintroduction of rare and threatened plants Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)

v t e Threatened species IUCN categories IUCN Extinct in the Wild Threatened species Critically Endangered Endangered species Vulnerable species Near Threatened Least Concern Data Deficient Conservation Dependent IUCN Red List IUCN species lists Extinct in the wild lists Critically endangered lists Endangered lists Vulnerable lists Near threatened lists Data deficient lists Critically endangered categories Endangered categories Vulnerable categories Near threatened categories Data deficient categories Conservation Biodiversity action plan Biodiversity threats Conservation biology CITES ARKive Bird conservation Conservation status Conservation reliant species Ecoregion conservation status Habitat destruction Latent extinction risk Rare species Vulnerability and susceptibility Other taxa Endangered arthropods Endangered spiders Threatened Banksia Threatened birds Threatened rays Threatened sharks Threatened sturgeons The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates The world's 100 most threatened species