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] [3] Rare species are not uncommon, since nearly 75% of known species are rare.[4]

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).

Rare species are species with small populations. Many move into the endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate. Examples of rare species are the Himalayan brown bear, desert fox, wild Asiatic buffalo and hornbill.

A rare plant's legal status can be observed through the USDA's Plants Database. [5]

Common name Scientific name Conservation status Population Global range
Giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca Vulnerable 1,000 to 3,000 China
Wild Bactrian camel Camelus ferus Critically endangered 950 Kazakhstan/Northwest China/Southern Mongolia
Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Vulnerable 7,000 to 10,000 Africa/Southwestern Asia
California condor Gymnogyps californianus Critically endangered 130 approx. West North America
Alagoas curassow Mitu mitu Extinct in the wild 130 (in captivity) North East Brazil
Philippine eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi Critically endangered 200 breeding pairs Eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao
Black softshell turtle Nilssonia nigricans Extinct in the wild 150 to 300 (in captivity) Hazrat Sultan Bayazid Bastami shrine at Chittagong
Key-tree cactus Pilosocereus robinii Endangered 7 to 15 Florida Keys, Mexico, Puerto Rico
Kakapo Strigops habroptilus Critically Endangered 124 approx. New Zealand
Maui's dolphin Cephalorhynchus hectori maui Critically Endangered 55 New Zealand

See also

References

  1. ↑ Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) IUCN, 2001.
  2. ↑ R.MacNally and G.W.Brown, Reptiles and Habitat Fragmentation in the Box-ironbush Forests of Central Victoria, Australia: Predicting Compositional Change and Faunal Nested-ness, Oecologia 128:116-125 (2001)
  3. ↑ Prendergast, J. R.; Quinn, R. M.; Lawton, J. H.; Eversham, B. C.; Gibbons, D. W. (1993-09-23). "Rare species, the coincidence of diversity hotspots and conservation strategies". Nature. 365 (6444): 335–337. doi:10.1038/365335a0.
  4. ↑ Dinerstein, Eric (2013) The Kingdom of Rarities Island Press. ISBN 9781610911955.
  5. ↑ "Welcome to the PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2015-11-23.

Further reading


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