FaunaHub

Animal group · Invertebrates

Endangered invertebrates

Invertebrates make up most of animal life but are far less assessed than vertebrates. This selection highlights well-documented examples: reef-building corals, pollinating bumble bees, the migratory monarch, and a tree snail now Extinct in the Wild.

Each record shows its IUCN category and links to authoritative sources such as NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

13 records in this view · last reviewed

Invertebrates are vastly under-assessed relative to their diversity. The records below are well-documented examples, including reef-building corals and pollinators.

Data limitations

  • These are educational summaries, not the official assessment. Conservation status can change as new science and threats emerge.
  • We show the global IUCN Red List category. National and local status can differ from the global category.
  • Each record shows a last-verified date and a data-confidence flag so you can see how current and how checked it is.
  • Always verify the current status on the official IUCN Red List and the relevant national wildlife authority. FaunaHub does not replace conservation authorities.

Dataset last reviewed: Full data methodology →

Invertebrates records

Showing 13 of 13 records

  • American Burying Beetle

    Nicrophorus americanus

    Last verified
    Verified

    Sources: IUCN Red List, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Elkhorn Coral

    Acropora palmata

    Last verified
    Verified

    Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Franklin's Bumble Bee

    Bombus franklini

    Last verified
    Verified

    Has not been seen since 2006 and may be extinct.

    Sources: IUCN Red List, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Lord Howe Island Stick Insect

    Dryococelus australis

    Last verified
    Verified

    Rediscovered on Ball's Pyramid after being thought extinct; subject of a captive-breeding programme.

    Sources: IUCN Red List, Zoos Victoria

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

    Bombus affinis

    Last verified
    Verified

    Sources: IUCN Red List, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Staghorn Coral

    Acropora cervicornis

    Population trend
    Decreasing
    Last verified
    Verified

    Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries

    Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial review

  • White Abalone

    Haliotis sorenseni

    Last verified
    Verified

    Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Boulder Star Coral

    Orbicella annularis

    Last verified
    Verified

    Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Monarch Butterfly (migratory)

    Danaus plexippus plexippus

    Last verified
    Verified

    The 2022 Endangered listing applies to the migratory monarch subspecies. The wider species was assessed separately; confirm the relevant entry on the live IUCN list.

    Sources: IUCN Red List, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Animal Diversity Web

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Mountainous Star Coral

    Orbicella faveolata

    Last verified
    Verified

    Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Lobed Star Coral

    Orbicella franksi

    Last verified
    Verified

    Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Pillar Coral

    Dendrogyra cylindrus

    Last verified
    Verified

    Caribbean reef coral severely affected by stony coral tissue loss disease; confirm the current category on the live IUCN entry.

    Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries

    Index record onlySource review pending

  • Rough Cactus Coral

    Mycetophyllia ferox

    Last verified
    Verified

    Sources: IUCN Red List, NOAA Fisheries

    Index record onlySource review pending

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do corals appear on an endangered-animals list?
Corals are colonial animals, not plants. Reef-building species such as staghorn and elkhorn coral are assessed as Critically Endangered due to warming seas, disease, and acidification.
Is the monarch butterfly endangered?
The migratory monarch subspecies was listed as Endangered by the IUCN in 2022. The broader species has been assessed separately, so check which entry applies on the official IUCN Red List.
Why are so few invertebrates listed?
Most invertebrate species have never been formally assessed for extinction risk. FaunaHub includes well-documented examples rather than guessing at unassessed species.

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