A species is classified as endangered when there are fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. When a species population declines by at least 20 percent within five years or two generations, it is also classified as endangered. Relation to other works: This library currently has one multi-volume set of encyclopedias. The library does not have currently have a subject encyclopedia. Students who are interested in animals may enjoy looking through this encyclopedia. Additionally, the Next Generation Science Standards places an emphasis on animal and plant structures and their functions. This encyclopedia would supplement some of these standards. Critics of captive breeding programs say that releasing a few animals into the wild does little to help the species population. Animals are extinct in the wild largely due to loss of habitat. The re-introduction of animals, especially large mammals that require vast territory for survival, does nothing to recover lost habitat. People continue to develop land for homes and businesses. The Transcaucasian racerunner ( Eremias pleskei) is a lizard found on the Armenian Plateau, located in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. The Transcaucasian racerunner is a critically endangered species because of a huge population decline, estimated at more than 80 percent during the past 10 years.

A zoo is a place where animals live in captivity and are put on display for people to view. The word “zoo” is short for “ zoological park.” Zoos contain wide varieties of animals that are native to all parts of the Earth. Urbanzoos, located in large cities, still resemble the smaller zoos that were popular 200 years ago. Often, these zoos sit in the middle of cities, making expansion difficult. There is little room for urbanzoos to grow, and many of the zoo’s buildings are historic landmarks that cannot be destroyed or redesigned. Timeliness and Permanence: This book was published in 2012. With such high quality found in this encyclopedia, it will withstand the test of time and always be an interesting and helpful resource for students. Some zoos are dedicated entirely to certain species. Aquariums are types of zoos that exclusively house aquatic animals. The Sydney Aquarium in Australia has exhibits of all of Australia’s major water systems and is home to more than 650 native Australian species.Safari parks, especially in Europe, are often part of larger theme parks or resorts. They include golf courses and fairground attractions, such as games and rides. Accuracy/Authority/Bias: The author is a veterinarian, board-certified in zoological medicine, one of only 150 in the world. National Geographic has long been one of the world’s premier publishers regarding this topic.

Brief Description: This animal encyclopedia covers a wide range of animals across the world. Students in grades 4-7 can learn about the different animals, their habitats, their endangered species risk, and range maps.

The white ferula mushroom ( Pleurotus nebrodensis) is a critically endangered species of fungus. The mushroom is critically endangered because its extent of occurrence is less than 100 square kilometers (39 square miles). It is only found in the northern part of the Italian island of Sicily, in the Mediterranean Sea. A near threatened species is one that is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future. Captive herds are now kept in protected areas of Tunisia, Senegal, and Morocco. Scimitar-horned oryxes are also found in many zoos. Classifying a species as endangered has to do with its range and habitat, as well as its actual population. For this reason, a species can be of least concern in one area and endangered in another. The gray whale, for instance, has a healthy population in the eastern Pacific Ocean, along the coast of North and South America. The population in the western Pacific, however, is critically endangered.