Glossary

Conservation status

“Threatened” is a general term to designate species whose survival is at risk. As can be seen below in the brief descriptions, threatened covers a range of categories

Extinct: Where there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.

Critically Endangered: Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future.

Endangered: Not critically endangered, but facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

Vulnerable: Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.

Data deficient: There is inadequate information to make a direct assessment of a taxon at risk of extinction. Listing in this category indicates that more information is required, which may possibly show the taxon is threatened.

Near-threatened: The taxon has been assessed and does not qualify for critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable now, but it could qualify as threatened in the near future.

Not listed: The taxon is currently considered secure at a state and national level, although it may be under threat and declining at regional or local scales.

Declining: Taxa that are known to be in decline through at least part of their range, but are still abundant enough or widespread enough that they are not listed as threatened at a state level.

Marine and Migratory species: Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Australia has rights and responsibilities of over 16 million square kilometres of ocean. The Australian Government uses the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to protect and manage threatened, migratory and marine species. For more information on marine and migratory species see the EPBC List of Marine Species.

This site gives the conservation status in South Australia, as well as nationally. For more comprehensive listings of threatened species refer to: National and South Australia (go to National Parks & Wildlife tag)