- International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated its Red List. The list has assessed the extinction risk of almost 106,000 species.
- 27% of the assessed species are threatened and at a risk of extinction. More than 7,000 species from around the world were added to the endangered category of the Red List in the latest update.
- According to IUCN, Wedgefishes and giant guitarfishes, known collectively as Rhino Rays are now the most imperilled marine fish families on Earth.
- Further, seven species of primate are closer to extinction on the new list, including the Roloway Monkey of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.
- The Red List, produced by the IUCN, is the most authoritative assessment of the status of species.
- There are 9 categories in the Red List: a) Extinct, b) Extinct in the Wild, c) Critically Endangered, d) Endangered, e) Vulnerable, f) Near Threatened, g) Least Concern, h) Data Deficient and i) Not Evaluated.
- Among the categories, Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU) species are considered to be threatened with extinction
