View source for Critically endangered

{{Short description|IUCN conservation category}}
{{About|the conservation designation itself|lists of critically endangered species|Lists of IUCN Red List critically endangered species}}
{{Conservation status}}
[[File:Perezoso La Mochila.jpg|220x220px|thumb|[[Pygmy three-toed sloth]], a species of [[sloth]] with a conservation status of critically endangered]]

An [[IUCN Red List]] '''critically endangered''' ('''CR''' or sometimes '''CE''') [[species]] is one that has been [[Conservation status|categorized]] by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] as facing an extremely high risk of [[extinction]] in the wild.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/iucnredlist-newcms/staging/public/attachments/3097/redlist_cats_crit_en.pdf|title=IUCN RED LIST CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA|date=2000-02-09|access-date=2018-02-06}}</ref> As of December 2023, of the 157,190 species currently on the [[IUCN]] Red List, 9,760 of those are listed as critically endangered, with 1,302 being possibly extinct and 67 possibly [[extinct in the wild]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org |access-date=January 19, 2024 |publisher=IUCN}}</ref> 

The [[IUCN Red List]] provides the public with information regarding the conservation status of animal, fungi, and plant species.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What Is the IUCN Red List?|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org |access-date=August 13, 2020 |publisher=IUCN Red List}}</ref> It divides various species into seven different categories of conservation that are based on habitat range, population size, habitat, threats, etc. Each category represents a different level of global extinction risk. Species that are considered to be critically endangered are placed within the "Threatened" category.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 17, 2011|title=Endangered Species|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/endangered-species/ |access-date=August 13, 2020 |website=National Geographic}}</ref>

As the IUCN Red List does not consider a species extinct until extensive targeted surveys have been conducted, species that are possibly extinct are still listed as critically endangered. IUCN maintains a list<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/about/summary-statistics#Table_9|title=Summary Statistics|website=www.iucnredlist.org|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref> of "possibly extinct" and "possibly extinct in the wild" species, modelled on categories used by [[BirdLife International]] to categorize these [[taxon|taxa]].

==Criteria ==
To be defined as critically endangered in the Red List, a species must meet ''any'' of the following criteria (A–E) ("3G/10Y" signifies three generations or ten years—whichever is longer—over a maximum of 100 years; "MI" signifies Mature Individuals):<ref name="IUCN def">{{cite web|title=Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria|url=https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/redlistguidelines.pdf|author=IUCN|author-link=IUCN|date=February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502112555/http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/redlistguidelines.pdf|archive-date=2 May 2015|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref>

:'''A''': Population Size Reduction
:# The rate of reduction is measured either over a 10 year span or across three different generations within that species. 
:# The cause for this decline must also be known.
:# If the reasons for population reduction no longer occur and can be reversed, the population needs to have been reduced by at least 90%
:# If not, then the population needs to have been reduced by at least 80%

:'''B''': Reduction Across a Geographic Range
:# This reduction must occur over less than 100 km<sup>2</sup> OR the area of occupancy is less than 10 km<sup>2</sup>.
:## Severe [[habitat fragmentation]] or existing at just one location
:## Decline in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, area/extent/quality of habitat, number of locations/subpopulations, or amount of MI.
:## Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of locations/subpopulations, or amount of MI.

:'''C''': Population Decline
:# The population must decline to less than 250 MI and either:
:## A decline of 25% over 3G/10Y
:## Extreme fluctuations, or over 90% of MI in a single subpopulation, or no more than 50 MI in any one subpopulation.

:'''D''': Population Size Reduction
:# The population size must be reduced to numbers of less than 50 MI.

:'''E''': Probability of Extinction
:# There must be at least a 50% probability of going extinct in the wild within over 3G/10Y

==Causes==
[[File:Білуга (Huso huso).jpg|thumb|The Beluga sturgeon (''[[Beluga (sturgeon)|Huso huso]]'') is an example of a critically endangered species. Their wild populations have been reduced significantly due to overharvesting for its [[caviar]].]]
The current extinction crisis is witnessing extinction rates that are occurring at a faster rate than that of the natural extinction rate. It has largely been credited towards human impacts on [[climate change]] and the [[Biodiversity loss|loss of biodiversity]]. This is along with natural forces that may create stress on the species or cause an animal population to become extinct.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chandler|first=David|date=November 22, 2019|title=What Are the Causes of Animals Becoming Endangered?|url=https://sciencing.com/causes-animals-becoming-endangered-6564385.html|access-date=August 20, 2020|website=Sciencing}}</ref> 

Currently the biggest reason for species extinction is human interaction resulting in habitat loss.<ref>{{cite web |title=What Causes Extinction |url=https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/biodiversity/going-going-gone/what-causes-extinction|access-date=October 7, 2022 |website=American Museum of Natural History}}</ref> Species rely on their habitat for the resources needed for their survival. If the habitat becomes destroyed, the population will see a decline in their numbers. Activities that cause loss of habitat include [[pollution]], [[urbanization]], and [[agriculture]]. Another reason for plants and animals to become endangered is due to the introduction of [[invasive species]]. Invasive species invade and exploit a new habitat for its natural resources as a method to outcompete the native organisms, eventually taking over the habitat. This can lead to either the native species' extinction or causing them to become endangered, which also eventually causes extinction. Plants and animals may also go extinct due to disease. The introduction of a disease into a new habitat can cause it to spread amongst the native species. Due to their lack of familiarity with the disease or little resistance, the native species can die off.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Threatened species|state=expanded}}
{{Threatened species by region|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:IUCN Red List]]
[[Category:Biota by conservation status]]