Glossary
The vocabulary of wildlife
35 terms WAnimals uses across its species and place profiles, each with examples of species that match it.
35defined terms5vocabularies2,565classified species
Conservation status (IUCN)
The official threat scale, from lowest to highest risk.
- Least Concern1,381 species
- The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
- See these species
- Near Threatened168 species
- It could become threatened in the near future if current threats go unchecked.
- See these species
- Endangered183 species
- At very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
- See these species
- Critically Endangered102 species
- At extremely high risk of imminent extinction in the wild.
- See these species
- Extinct in the Wild2 species
- It survives only in captivity or through populations reintroduced outside its historical range.
- See these species
- Data Deficient21 species
- There is not enough information to assess its risk of extinction.
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Diet
Activity pattern
- Irregular activity169 species
- Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.
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Protected-area categories (IUCN)
The code shown on park profiles. 534 parks in the catalogue have one assigned.
- IUCN Ia · Strict nature reserve
- An area strictly protected for its biodiversity or its geological formations, where visits and human use are heavily restricted so as not to disturb the values being conserved. Such areas are usually reserved for scientific research.
- IUCN Ib · Wilderness area
- A large area, unmodified or only slightly modified, with no permanent human settlement, protected so that it keeps its natural character without intensive management.
- IUCN II · National park
- A large natural area protecting large-scale ecological processes along with their characteristic species and ecosystems, which also allows public visits for educational and recreational purposes. This is the category of most national parks.
- IUCN III · Natural monument
- An area protecting one specific natural feature: a landform, a cave, a seamount or even an ancient grove. These are usually small areas around that feature.
- IUCN IV · Habitat or species management area
- An area aimed at protecting particular species or habitats, which therefore needs regular, active management intervention rather than merely the absence of impact.
- IUCN V · Protected landscape
- An area where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced a landscape with a character of its own, of ecological and cultural value, and whose protection means maintaining that relationship rather than excluding it.
- IUCN VI · Protected area with sustainable use of resources
- An area conserving ecosystems and habitats together with traditional systems for using their resources, allowing sustainable use compatible with conservation.
Social structure