endangered species list

[noun]

(Shorthand for the United States' "Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants") An official list of species that are at risk of going extinct. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maintain the list and develop plans to help listed species recover by protecting them and their habitat.

Species fall in different categories depending on the urgency of their situation. A species that is officially endangered is on the brink of extinction. A threatened species is likely to be on the brink of extinction in the near future. A candidate species is one that has been studied and is being considered for listing.

Other countries and international bodies have similar designations. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) has been signed by 175 countries to date. This cooperative agreement regulates trade of endangered plants and animals (and products made from them) in an effort to protect those species globally.