Each and every one of the species and subspecies on this planet serves a purpose in the greater scheme of things. In most cases, it’s something you would never even think about in your daily life, but, for instance, if all the snakes in the world were to die out, there would probably be an alarming increase in rodent problems. Many of our earth’s species are dangerously dwindling in numbers, but there are SO many that we overlook.
In honor of Endangered Species Day, here are 20 species that you never knew were on the endangered list.
1. Hummingbirds
Some species of hummingbird have as little as 600 of their kind left, including the Oaxaca, Mangrove, and Chestnut-billed hummingbirds.
2. Horses
This species, Przewalski’s horses, have only 1,500 left. They’re typically not domesticated and roam the Mongolian hills.
3. Alligators
While alligators have been on the endangered species list for a long time and there are conservation efforts in place, people are still hunting them for their meat and skin.
4. Fruit bats
Many different species of fruit bats are endangered, but the small-toothed fruit bat has only seven known individuals left.
5. Squirrels
This particular species of ground squirrel, the San Joaquin Antelope ground squirrel, has lost 80% of its former habitat. Because of this, there are only about 124,000-413,000 of these guys left.
6. Butterflies
It’s common knowledge that the beloved monarch butterfly is endangered, but there are over 30 other subspecies in need of attention, mainly as a result of pesticide use.
7. Mice
Another rodent that you may have thought to be overly abundant whose losing his home is the mouse. Certain species, like Himalayan field mouse and the white-tailed mouse, have dwindled seriously in number over recent years.
8. Snakes
Some species in California are in severe danger do to loss of habitat and pollution. You might think you’d be happy to see snakes go, but just wait until you see how off-kilter the ecosystem would be without them!
9. Parakeets
Surely you recognize this guy as a common household pet, and it’s partially for that reason that these guys are going extinct. The caged bird trade, as well as loss of habitat put sun parakeets and grey-cheeked parakeets on the endangered species list.
10. Chinchillas
Over the past 20 years, we’ve lost 90% of the entire chinchilla population. Part of this is due to people hunting them for their soft fur.
11. Crayfish
Counting down the days until that first summertime crawfish cookout? Many crayfish species are drastically dropping in numbers, including the sweet home Alabama crayfish, which would be a shame to see fall off of the edge of the planet, if for no other reason but the name alone.
12. Deer
Many varieties of the musk deer are dwindling in numbers. These small species of deer, including the black musk deer and the Himalayan musk deer, may look a bit prehistoric…but they’re about to become history if no one does anything about it!
13. Water buffalo
With a 50% decrease in population over the past three generations, the wild water buffalo are at risk because of habitat loss and interbreeding between the domestic and wild ones.
14. Vultures
You might think of vultures as being ruthless and able to sustain themselves in even the harshest of conditions, but the Egyptian vulture is down to as little as 13,000 individuals throughout Europe, Africa, and India.
15. Hippos
In 1990, estimates placed pygmy hippos at 3,000 individuals. Today, recent studies suggest that even back then, that number was too high. Sadly, their numbers have continued to fall in the past 25 years.
16. Mockingbirds
With only 5,000 individuals of the San Cristobal mockingbird left, these incredible creatures could be on their way out.
17. Sheep
One hundred years ago, over two million Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep roamed the U.S. Now, there are fewer than 70,000.
18. Snails
Because of urban development, climate change, and pollution, over 80 subspecies of snails are either endangered or threatened…and that’s only in the U.S.
19. Sea lions
The stellar sea lion still has a solid number of individuals, but a very troubling decline in numbers, especially in the Gulf of Alaska, has conservationists very worried.
20. Ferrets
The black-footed ferret is one of the most endangered species in the U.S. because he feeds on prairie dogs, which are also becoming more scarce due to development in their habitats.
I can’t imagine a world void of any of these critters…can you? If you can’t either, take action!



















