Is there a difference between threatened and endangered species?

Endangered species and threatened species are, to many people, just different ways of describing the same thing — an at-risk plant or animal. For DOC and other scientists the terms mean two different things.

We describe our species using the New Zealand Threat Classification System, which outlines nationally understood and consistent categories and criteria to determine risk of extinction.

In this system, a threatened species is an umbrella term used to describe a range of risk categories, whereas an endangered species is one specific category.

New Zealand Threat Classification System categories

Threatened New Zealand birds

See a list of New Zealand's threatened birds. This includes all nationally critical, nationally endangered, and nationally vulnerable New Zealand birds.

Criteria 

Learn about the criteria used to determine how species are classified.

IUCN Red List of threatened species

The New Zealand Threat Classification System is intended to complement the world view provided by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Check out the the IUCN Red List of Threatend Species website.

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