Vital Statistics - extinction - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

National Wildlife, Feb-March, 2001

Number of threatened animal and plant species worldwide: 11,046

Number of known species humans have forced to extinction in past 500 years: 816

Number of threatened animal and plant species in the United States: 998*

Percentage of known amphibian species listed as threatened: 20 (approx.)

Percentage of known mammal species listed as threatened: 24

Percentage of known reptile species listed as threatened: 25 (approx.)

Percentage of known fish species listed as threatened: 30 (approx.)

Countries with the Largest Number of Threatened Species

1.  United States:  998*
2.  Malaysia:  805
3.  Indonesia:  763
4.  Brazil:  609
5.  Australia:  524

Source: IUCN The World Conservation Union, 2000 Red List of Threatened Species. *The IUCN Red List does not correspond directly with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's threatened and endangered species list.