endangered species

Species of organisms, animals or plants, likely to go extinct in the foreseeable future unless current trends are altered; a species which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in number, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. They are listed by regulation under the Endangered Species Act (Act) and assigned the Act’s highest level of protection. Only scientific factors may be taken into account in deciding whether to list a species as endangered, though economic factors may be taken into account at other stages of the Act. See also [[threatened species]]. For the legal definition, see Section 3 of the Act.

Authorization Path: 2.5.6.4.24.0