GX

Basic

Presumed Extinct (species)— Not located despite intensive searches and virtually no likelihood of rediscovery.

Eliminated (ecological communities)—Eliminated throughout its range, with no restoration potential due to extinction of dominant or characteristic species.

GH

Basic

Possibly Extinct (species)— Missing; known from only historical occurrences but still some hope of rediscovery.

Presumed Eliminated— (Historic, ecological communities)-Presumed eliminated throughout its range, with no or virtually no likelihood that it will be rediscovered, but with the potential for restoration, for example, American Chestnut Forest.

G1

Basic

Critically Imperiled—At very high risk of extinction due to extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer populations), very steep declines, or other factors.

G2

Basic

Imperiled—At high risk of extinction due to very restricted range, very few populations (often 20 or fewer), steep declines, or other factors.

G3

Basic

Vulnerable—At moderate risk of extinction due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors.

G4

Basic

Apparently Secure—Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors.

G5

Basic

Secure—Common; widespread and abundant.

G#G#

Variant

Range Rank—A numeric range rank (e.g., G2G3) is used to indicate the range of uncertainty in the status of a species or community. A G2G3 rank would indicate that there is a roughly equal chance of G2 or G3 and other ranks are much less likely. Ranges cannot skip more than one rank (e.g., GU should be used rather than G1G4).

GU

Variant

Unrankable—-Currently unrankable due to lack of information or due to substantially conflicting information about status or trends. Whenever possible, the most likely rank is assigned and a question mark qualifier may be added (e.g., G2?) to express minor uncertainty, or a range rank (e.g., G2G3) may be used to delineate the limits (range) of uncertainty.

GNR

Variant

Unranked—Global rank not yet assessed.

GNA

Variant

Not Applicable—A conservation status rank is not applicable because the species is not a suitable target for conservation activities.

?

Qualifier

Inexact Numeric Rank—Denotes some uncertainty about the numeric rank (e.g. G3? - Believed most likely a G3, but some chance of either G2 or G4).

Q

Qualifier

Questionable taxonomy—Taxonomic distinctiveness of this entity at the current level is questionable; resolution of this uncertainty may result in change from a species to a subspecies or hybrid, or the inclusion of this taxon in another taxon, with the resulting taxon having a lower-priority conservation priority.

C

Qualifier

Captive or Cultivated Only—At present extant only in captivity or cultivation, or as a reintroduced population not yet established.

T#

Infraspecific

Infraspecific Taxon (trinomial)—The status of infraspecific taxa (subspecies or varieties) are indicated by a "T-rank" following the species' global rank. Rules for assigning T-ranks follow the same principles outlined above for global conservation status ranks. For example, the global rank of a critically imperiled subspecies of an otherwise widespread and common species would be G5T1. A T-rank cannot imply the subspecies or variety is more abundant than the species as a whole-for example, a G1T2 cannot occur. A vertebrate animal population, such as those listed as distinct population segments under under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, may be considered an infraspecific taxon and assigned a T-rank; in such cases a Q is used after the T-rank to denote the taxon's informal taxonomic status. At this time, the T rank is not used for ecological communities.