Rare species

A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon, scarce, or infrequently encountered. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and is distinct from the term endangered or threatened. Designation of a rare species may be made by an official body, such as a national government, state, or province. The term more commonly appears without reference to specific criteria. The IUCN does not normally make such designations, but may use the term in scientific discussion.

Rarity rests on a specific species being represented by a small number of organisms worldwide, usually fewer than 10,000. However, a species having a very narrow endemic range or fragmented habitat also influences the concept. Almost 75% of known species can be classified as "rare". Rare species

Common name	Scientific name	Conservation status	Population	Global range
Giant Panda	Ailuropoda melanoleuca	Vulnerable	1,000 to 3,000	China
Wild Bactrian camel	Camelus ferus	Critically endangered	950	Kazakhstan/Northwest China/Southern Mongolia
Cheetah	Acinonyx jubatus	Vulnerable	7,000 to 10,000	Africa/Southwestern Asia
California condor	Gymnogyps californianus	Critically endangered	446	West North America
Alagoas curassow	Mitu mitu	Extinct in the wild	130 (in captivity)	North East Brazil
Philippine eagle	Pithecophaga jefferyi	Critically endangered	200 breeding pairs	Eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao
Black softshell turtle	Nilssonia nigricans	Extinct in the wild	150 to 300 (in captivity)	Sultan Bayazid Bastami shrine at Chittagong
Key tree-cactus	Pilosocereus robinii	Critically Endangered	7 to 15	Florida Keys, Mexico, Puerto Rico
Kakapo	Strigops habroptilus	Critically Endangered	149	New Zealand
Maui's dolphin	Cephalorhynchus hectori maui	Critically Endangered	55	New Zealand
Vaquita	Phocoena sinus	Critically Endangered	12	Gulf of California (Mexico)
Gobi bear	Ursus arctos gobiensis	Critically Endangered	22	Gobi Desert (Mongolia)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature uses the term "rare" as a designation for species found in isolated geographical locations. They are not endangered, but classified as "at risk".

A species may be endangered or vulnerable, but not considered rare if it has a large, dispersed population. Rare species are generally considered threatened because a small population size is more likely to not recover from ecological disasters.[citation needed]

Rare species are species with small populations. Many move into the endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate. Examples of rare species include the Himalayan brown bear, Fennec fox, Wild Asiatic buffalo and Hornbill.

A rare plant's legal status can be observed through the USDA's Plants Database.