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.

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. Rare species are not uncommon, since nearly 75% of known species are rare.

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 deer, desert fox, wild Asiatic buffalo and hornbill.

A rare plant's legal status can be observed through the USDA's Plants Database

Common name	Scientific name	Conservation status	Population	Global range
Giant panda	Ailuropoda melanoleuca	Endangered	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	P. 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

See also

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

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)