Near Threatened is a classification category on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Threatened Species List. Currently 2,657 species are defined as near threatened. Scientists categorize a species as Near Threatened when conservationists believe that it will face extinction in the near future, but it doesn’t currently meet the standards for another category.
There are six main reasons why scientists categorize taxons as near threatened:
- Habitat loss
- Introduction of a foreign species
- Hunting
- Pollution
- Disease
- Loss of genetic variation
Near Threatened Species
African Bush Elephant
Can drink up to 50 gallons a day
Alaskan Pollock
It's one of the most commonly eaten fish in the world
Albacore Tuna
The albacore is a very fast swimmer
Albatross
The largest wingspan of any bird in the world!
Angelfish
There are 70 different species!
Anteater
Found throughout the Southern Hemisphere!
Archerfish
Archerfish can shoot a stream of water up to five feet with amazing accuracy.
Asian Giant Hornet
The largest wasp in the world!
Axanthic Ball Python
Axanthic ball pythons lack yellow pigment in their skin!
Badger
Can reach speeds of 30 km/h!
Banana Cinnamon Ball Python
Banana cinnamon ball pythons came from combining the banana and cinnamon genes.
Bearded Vulture
These birds eat a diet of bones
Beaver
Builds a dam from sticks and leaves!
Bison
Largest mammal in North America!
Blackpoll Warbler
They migrate for the longest distance of any warbler.
Blue Shark
Blue sharks can have up to 135 pups at a time.
Bronze Whaler Shark
The Bronze Whaler Sharks only hunt in large groups.
Brookesia Micra
Brookesia micra can curl up and pretend to be a dead leaf if it’s threatened.
Brown Hyena
They don’t laugh
Bumblebee
The most common species of bee!
Cantil
Cantils heads are marked with bright white lines on each side of their heads.
Capuchin
Named after Capuchin friars.
Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
Chameleon
There are more than 160 different species!
Cicada
Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans
Cinereous Vulture
This vulture can fly at great heights. At least one was found a few thousand feet from the top of Mount Everest.
Cobras
Several medicines have been created using cobra venom.
Common Grackle
Common grackles are a pest species that damage crops and spread disease.
Coral
There are more than 6000 species of coral in the world's oceans.
Cow
There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!
Crab
There are 93 different crab groups
Crane
Many are critically endangered species!
Cuscus
Has a long, strong prehensile tail!
Cuttlefish
Found throughout the world's oceans!
Deer
There are around 40 different species!
Desert Ghost Ball Python
Desert ghost ball pythons are even more beautiful when they're bred with another type like enchi ball pythons.
Desert Tortoise
Lives in burrows underground!
Dingo
Natively found on the Australian continent!
Discus
One of the only schooling Cichlids!
Dolphin
Can reach speeds of up to 25 mph!
Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Dragonfly
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Dugong
Closely related to the Manatee!
Dwarf Boa
Some species can change color from dark to light, and back again.
Eagle
Has exceptional eyesight!
Eagle Ray
Majestic underwater bird like fish
Eastern Hognose Snake
Eastern hognose snakes are venomous, but only to frogs and toads.
Eastern Meadowlark
They can live up to 9 years.
Eider
Eiders are sexually dimorphic, with males being larger and more colorful.
Elegant Tern
Have a lifespan of 20 years or more
Elephant
Spends around 22 hours a day eating!
Emperor Goose
Their calls sound like a nasally “kla-ha, kla-ha, kla-ha.”
Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!
False Killer Whale
The false killer whale looks like a cross between a dolphin and orca!
Ferret
Ferrets can be trained to do tricks like dogs!
Finch
Finches have strong, conical bills that help them break open tough seeds that many other birds cannot.
Fire Ball Python
The fire ball python morph is known for its rich golden and reddish-brown coloration.
Fox
Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"
Freeway Ball Python
Freeway ball pythons come from breeding yellow belly and asphalt ball pythons.
Frog
There are around 7,000 different species!
Fur Seal
Found only in the Northern Hemisphere!
Galapagos Shark
Galapagos sharks are cannibalistic and sometimes eat their young, so the pups stay away from the adults in shallow water.
Gecko
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!
Gentoo Penguin
Found throughout the sub-Antarctic!
Gibbon
Found in dense jungles and tropical forests!
Gila Monster
It's tail acts as a fat storage facility!
Gopher
They dig large networks of tunnels!
Goral
A mix between a goat and an antelope
Gorilla
The biggest of the world's primates!
Gouldian Finch
The male Gouldian finch bobs its head and fluffs its feathers to court a female.
Grebe
They swim like frogs
Grey Reef Shark
One of the most common shark species!
Grey Seal
One of the rarest species of seal on Earth
Grizzly Bear
Less than 10% make it into adulthood
Hammerhead Shark
Found in coastal waters around the world!
Hare
Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!
Harpy Eagle
Talon's the size of a grizzly bear's claws!
Hawaiian Goose (Nene)
They have the longest breeding season of any goose.
Hellbender
This giant salamander has lived in its ecosystem for about 65 million years
Hercules Beetle
This dynastine scarab beetle makes a weird huffing sound when it’s disturbed.
Hermit Crab
There are over 500 different species!
Honduran White Bat
The bat only eats figs.
Horse Mackerel
Got their name from a myth that other fish would ride them over great distances
Hyena
There are four different species!
Iguana
Uses visual signals to communicate!
Indian python
Kaa from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book was an Indian Python.
Jaguar
The largest feline on the American continent!
Japanese Macaque
Has cheek pouches for storing food!
Killer Clown Ball Python
Killer clown ball pythons can cost several thousand dollars.
King Crab
Can have a leg span of nearly 2 meters!
Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
Kirtland’s snake
It is considered to be the least aquatic of water snakes.
Kiwi
Only found in the forests of New Zealand!
Kori Bustard
It's easily identified by its crest, large size, and wingspan
Lavender Albino Ball Python
The first two lavender albino ball pythons were wild-hatched and imported from Africa.
Leaf-Tailed Gecko
Only found on Madagascar!
Lemming
Does not hibernate during the bitter Arctic winter!
Leopard
Spends much of the time high in the trees!
Leopard Seal
The world's most aggressive seal species!
Leopard Tortoise
The most widely distributed tortoise in Africa!
Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!
Lumpfish
The lumpfish have sticky suction cups on their fins
Lyrebird
Lyrebirds mimic birds of prey to deter predators such as birds of prey.
Macaque
Macaque females will pass on their social rankings to their daughters
Macaroni Penguin
Gather in colonies of up to 100,000 members!
Magellanic Penguin
Threatened by oil spills!
Magpie
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!
Mandrill
Distinctively coloured noses and rumps!
Maned Wolf
Despite its name, the Maned Wolf is not actually a wolf.
Margay
Margays are one of the world’s most highly adapted cat species for climbing trees!
Mayfly
There are 2,500 known species worldwide!
Minke Whale
There are two recognised species!
Mojave Ball Python
Instead of the typically banded or ‘alien head’ patterning of most ball python morphs, the Mojave morph’s patterning is characterized by lots of large, circular splotches with small, dark brown dots in their centers.
Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Molly
Known for their calm and peaceful nature!
Monitor Lizard
Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!
Moth
There are 250,000 different species!
Narwhal
Lives and hunts in the frigid Arctic!
Nautilus
Living fossils that evolved over 500 million years ago
Nicobar pigeon
Unlike other pigeons, Nicobar pigeons don't fly in haphazard flocks but in columns or single file.
Northern Screamer
They are closely related to magpie geese
Nurse Shark
Commonly found in Central American waters!
Ocellated Turkey
These birds are timid and hard to spot, but their noisy gobbles give them away.
Okapi
Eats more than 100 different types of plant!
Olm
Inhabits dark underwater caves
Orange Dream Ball Python
The "Orange Dream" name came from the idea that the morph would make its first breeder a million dollars.
Ornate Box Turtle
One of the biggest threats to the orate box turtle population is that when during extremely hot or cold breeding season a vast majority of the hatchlings are of one sex.
Otter
There are 13 different species worldwide
Pacific Sleeper Shark
In 2015, a Pacific Sleeper Shark was filmed living underneath an active volcano near the Solomon Islands. This shark is able to survive in waters with very high temperatures and acidity!
Pademelon
Inhabits the jungles of the far east!
Panda Pied Ball Python
The panda pied ball python morph is a combination of the piebald and black pastel traits.
Panther
Prefers to hunt at night than during the day!
Partridge
Long-lost civilizations have immortalized male partridges in art, depicting them as a symbol of fertility.
Penguin
Spends 75% of it's time hunting for food!
Philippine Cobra
Philippine cobra is a highly venomous species of spitting cobra.
Pink Fairy Armadillo
The smallest known species of Armadillo
Pit Viper
Pit vipers's fangs fold up into their mouths when they don't need them.
Platypus
One of the only mammals to lay eggs!
Poison Dart Frog
Inhabits the jungles of Central and South America!
Pollock Fish
Pollock is a nutritious fish, generally readily available for human consumption, and more sustainable and affordable than other whitefish species like hake or haddock.
Prairie Chicken
They inflate their orange neck patches during their mating displays
Purple Emperor Butterfly
Inhabits deciduous forests!
Puss Moth
Caterpillars squirt formic acid!
Python
Female pythons lay eggs and defend them until they hatch.
Quetzal
The tail feathers of the male can be 1m long!
Quoll
Found across Australia and Papua New Guinea!
Red Knee Tarantula
Inhabits the Pacific Mountains of Mexico!
Rhea
Male rheas mate with up to a dozen females and single-handedly raise up to 80 chicks at once!
River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
Robin
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
Rufous Hummingbird
The males have a glowing iridescent orange patch on their chests.
Salamander
There are more than 700 different species!
Sand Lizard
Males turn green in spring!
Sandpiper
Some sandpipers can migrate more than 8,000 miles without stopping!
Sea Dragon
Inhabits tropical coastal waters of Australia!
Sea Lion
It's flippers allow it to walk on the land
Sea Squirt
There are more than 3,000 known species!
Sea Urchin
Can live for up to 200 years!
Seal
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Siberian Ibex
There’s a population of Siberian ibex in New Mexico
Sixgill shark
The sixgill shark has six pairs of gills instead of the normal five
Sleeper Shark
The Greenland shark is one of the longest living vertebrates in the world.
Snapping Turtle
Only found in North America!
Spanish Goat
They have long, horizontal ears.
Sponge
There are more than 9,000 known species!
Squirrel
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
Starfish
Has 2 stomachs to aid digestion!
Stick Insect
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Stingray
It's stinger is razor-sharp or serrated!
Striped Hyena
The striped hyenas usually mark their territories with the help of the scent gland secretions from their anal pouch.
Sunset Ball Python
Sunset ball pythons are bred with several other morphs to get designer colors.
Swallow
swallows have aerodynamic bodies for hunting in flight
Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Swordfish
Lose their scales and teeth as adults
Tamarin
These tiny yet intelligent monkeys often give birth to fraternal twins.
Tang
Found around shallow coral reefs!
Tasmanian Devil
Exclusively found on the island of Tasmania!
Thornback Ray
The skate with the biggest spines!
Tiger Shark
The fourth biggest species of shark in the world!
Tuatara
Only found on a few of New Zealand's islands!
Turaco
Their name means “banana-eater,” but they rarely ever eat bananas.
Viper
Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most
Walrus
Inhabits the freezing waters of the Arctic Circle!
Water Dragon
Spends most of it's time in the trees!
Whale Shark
The largest species of fish in the world!
White Rhinoceros
The second largest animal on the land!
Wolf
Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!
Wood Turtle
Temperature determines the sex of turtle eggs
Woolly Monkey
Has a long, strong prehensile tail!
Yak
Yaks can live at altitudes up to 20,000 feet--the highest of any land-dwelling mammal.
Yellow Belly Ball Python
The yellow belly gene is co-dominant and doesn't completely override other genes.
Yellowfin Tuna
The yellowfin forms schools with other tuna species
Zebra Shark
Can get to be 30 years old in the wild!
Near Threatened Species List
- African Bush Elephant
- Alaskan Pollock
- Albacore Tuna
- Albatross
- Angelfish
- Anteater
- Archerfish
- Asian Giant Hornet
- Axanthic Ball Python
- Badger
- Ball Python
- Banana Cinnamon Ball Python
- Basking Shark
- Bearded Vulture
- Beaver
- Bison
- Black Pastel Ball Python
- Blackpoll Warbler
- Blue Shark
- Bronze Whaler Shark
- Brookesia Micra
- Brown Hyena
- Bumblebee
- Cantil
- Capuchin
- Catfish
- Chameleon
- Cicada
- Cinereous Vulture
- Cinnamon Ball Python
- Cobras
- Common Grackle
- Congo Snake
- Coral
- Cow
- Crab
- Crane
- Cuscus
- Cuttlefish
- Deer
- Desert Ghost Ball Python
- Desert Tortoise
- Dingo
- Discus
- Dolphin
- Donkey
- Dragonfly
- Dugong
- Dwarf Boa
- Eagle
- Eagle Ray
- Eastern Hognose Snake
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Eider
- Elegant Tern
- Elephant
- Emperor Goose
- Enchi Ball Python
- Falcon
- False Killer Whale
- Ferret
- Finch
- Fire Ball Python
- Fox
- Freeway Ball Python
- Frog
- Fur Seal
- Galapagos Shark
- Gecko
- Gentoo Penguin
- Gibbon
- Gila Monster
- Gopher
- Goral
- Gorilla
- Gouldian Finch
- Grebe
- Grey Reef Shark
- Grey Seal
- Grizzly Bear
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hare
- Harpy Eagle
- Hawaiian Goose (Nene)
- Hellbender
- Hercules Beetle
- Hermit Crab
- Honduran White Bat
- Horse Mackerel
- Hyena
- Iguana
- Indian python
- Jaguar
- Japanese Macaque
- Killer Clown Ball Python
- King Crab
- Kingfisher
- Kirtland’s snake
- Kiwi
- Kori Bustard
- Lavender Albino Ball Python
- Leaf-Tailed Gecko
- Lemming
- Lemon Blast Ball Python
- Lemon Shark
- Leopard
- Leopard Seal
- Leopard Tortoise
- Lizard
- Lumpfish
- Lyrebird
- Macaque
- Macaroni Penguin
- Magellanic Penguin
- Magpie
- Mandrill
- Maned Wolf
- Margay
- Mayfly
- Minke Whale
- Mojave Ball Python
- Mole
- Molly
- Monitor Lizard
- Moth
- Narwhal
- Nautilus
- Nicobar pigeon
- Northern Screamer
- Nurse Shark
- Ocellated Turkey
- Okapi
- Olm
- Orange Dream Ball Python
- Ornate Box Turtle
- Otter
- Pacific Sleeper Shark
- Pademelon
- Panda Pied Ball Python
- Panther
- Partridge
- Penguin
- Philippine Cobra
- Pink Fairy Armadillo
- Pit Viper
- Platypus
- Poison Dart Frog
- Pollock Fish
- Prairie Chicken
- Purple Emperor Butterfly
- Puss Moth
- Python
- Quetzal
- Quoll
- Red Knee Tarantula
- Rhea
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rock Python
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Salamander
- Sand Lizard
- Sandpiper
- Sea Dragon
- Sea Lion
- Sea Squirt
- Sea Urchin
- Seal
- Shrimp
- Siberian Ibex
- Sixgill shark
- Sleeper Shark
- Snapping Turtle
- Spanish Goat
- Sponge
- Squirrel
- Starfish
- Stick Insect
- Stingray
- Striped Hyena
- Sunset Ball Python
- Super Pastel Ball Python
- Swallow
- Swan
- Swordfish
- Tamarin
- Tang
- Tasmanian Devil
- Thornback Ray
- Tiger Shark
- Tuatara
- Turaco
- Viper
- Walrus
- Water Dragon
- Whale Shark
- White Rhinoceros
- Wolf
- Wood Turtle
- Woolly Monkey
- Yak
- Yellow Belly Ball Python
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Zebra Shark
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