Least-concern species

A least-concern species is a species that has been evaluated and categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as not needing special protection. This means the species is still common in the wild and does not face danger of disappearing soon. Such species are not considered threatened, near threatened, or (before 2001) conservation dependent.

For a species to be called "Least Concern," scientists must have studied its numbers and where it lives. They need enough information to decide if the species could die out in the future. This helps make sure we know which animals and plants are safe and which ones need help to survive.

Evaluation

Since 2001, the category for species that are not in danger has been called "LC". Before that year, these species were part of a group called "Lower Risk" and had a different code. About 20% of these species still use the old code because they have not been checked again since the year 2000.

Number of species

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists many species as "least concern," meaning they are not in danger and do not need special protection. In 2006, there were 15,636 species in this group. This includes 14,033 animal species (with some not fully described yet, like a frog from the genus Philautus), 101 animal subspecies, and 1,500 plant types (including 1,410 plant species, 55 subspecies, and 35 varieties). No fungi or protista have this classification, although only four species from these groups have been checked by the IUCN. In 2008, humans were also formally listed as a species of least concern.

List of LC species

Further information: Category:IUCN Red List least concern species

This section lists species that are considered to be of "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These are animals and plants that are still plentiful in the wild and do not need special protection right now. They have been checked and are not in danger of disappearing.