Endangered and Threatened Species

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff Updated by an Factmonster Editor on February 21, 2017

Many species of animals are disappearing from our planet. Extinct means that the entire species has died out and can never return. Endangered animals are those in immediate danger of becoming extinct. Threatened species are likely to become endangered in the future.

	Endangered¹		Threatened²		Total species	U.S. species with recovery plans
Group	U.S.	Foreign	U.S.	Foreign	Total species	U.S. species with recovery plans
Mammals	69	256	13	20	358	56
Birds	75	179	15	6	275	85
Reptiles	13	66	24	16	119	38
Amphibians	13	23	10	1	32	17
Fishes	74	11	65	1	151	101
Clams	62	2	8	0	72	70
Snails	64	1	11	0	76	69
Insects	47	4	10	0	61	38
Arachnids	12	0	0	0	12	12
Crustaceans	19	0	3	0	22	18
Corals	0	0	2	0	2	0
Animal subtotal	448	527	161	44	1,180	504
Flowering plants	570	1	143	0	714	630
Conifers and cycads	2	0	1	2	5	3
Ferns and allies	24	0	2	0	26	26
Lichens	2	0	0	0	2	2
Plant subtotal	598	1	146	2	747	661
Total	1,046	528	307	46	1,927	1,165

NOTE: As of July 21, 2008.

1. Endangered species are those in danger of extinction.

2. Threatened species are those likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future.

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Web: http://ecos.fws.gov/ .

Why Do Animals Become Endangered?

Animal Behavior

Animal Group Terminology

Sources +

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