endangered species

endangered species
endangered species en*dan"gered spe"cies, n. sing. & pl. A species of plant or animal that has declined in numbers to a point where further irreversible decline and extinction[3] has a significant chance. Lists of endangered species are maintained by government agencies, and in many cases the killing of such species or destruction of their habitat is prohibited by law.

Note: In the U. S. in recent years, development of certain tracts of land has been prohibited due to the likelihood that it will cause a reduction in the numbers of an endangered species. In some cases environmental organizations have initiated litigation to cause the courts to rule that a certain development plan is illegal due to a threat to an endangered species. Laws protecting endangered species have become in some cases a contentious political issue. [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • endangered species — A species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its normal range and habitat. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 defines when a species is considered endangered for purposes of federal law. Category: Small… …   Law dictionary

  • endangered species — n. a species of animal or plant in danger of becoming extinct …   English World dictionary

  • endangered species — endangered species. См. виды. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Endangered species — An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. An endangered species is usually a taxonomic species,… …   Wikipedia

  • endangered species — a species at risk of extinction because of human activity, changes in climate, changes in predator prey ratios, etc., esp. when officially designated as such by a governmental agency such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [1965 70] * * * Any …   Universalium

  • endangered species — /ɛndeɪndʒəd ˈspisiz/ (say endaynjuhd speeseez) noun 1. a threatened species that is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. Compare critically endangered species, vulnerable species. 2. Colloquial (humorous)… …  

  • endangered species — noun a species whose numbers are so small that the species is at risk of extinction • Hypernyms: ↑species • Hyponyms: ↑Australian lungfish, ↑Queensland lungfish, ↑Neoceratodus forsteri * * * noun : a species threatened with extinction ; …   Useful english dictionary

  • endangered species — UK [ɪnˌdeɪndʒə(r)d ˈspiːʃiːz] / US [ɪnˌdeɪndʒərd ˈspɪʃɪz] noun [countable] Word forms endangered species : singular endangered species plural endangered species a type of animal or plant that may soon become extinct (= disappear from the world) …   English dictionary

  • endangered species — Under endangered species protection legislation, a species in danger of extinction because of its low numbers or degraded habitat; or a species likely to become so unless factors affecting its status change; see also vulnerable species …   Fisheries — dictionary

  • endangered species — nykstanti rūšis statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Rūšis, kuriai dėl aplinkos veiksnių gresia išnykimo pavojus. Jei aplinkos sąlygos nepagerėja, rūšis išnyksta. atitikmenys: angl. endangered species; extinct species; threatened …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

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