Question

The term used for species in which the last individual has died or is not recorded is

• A. Extinct
• B. Near threatened
• C. Endangered
• D. Vulnerable

Hint:

IUCN conservation categories form a scale of risk running from Least Concern up to Extinct. Check whether the question describes a species that might still survive somewhere under human care, or one with no record anywhere at all, in the wild or otherwise. This distinction separates the two most severe categories on the scale from each other, so match the exact wording of the question to the official definition rather than relying on memory alone.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies species into different categories based on their risk of disappearance from the wild. These categories help prioritize conservation efforts.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Extinct (EX): A species is extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. A species is presumed extinct when exhaustive surveys in known and/or expected habitats, at appropriate times, have failed to record an individual.
2. Endangered (EN): A species facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
3. Vulnerable (VU): A species facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.
4. Near Threatened (NT): A species that does not qualify for the above but is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
Step 3: Final Answer
The term for a species whose last individual has died is Extinct.