The following are definitions of the state and global ranking of rare species that were originally developed and instituted by The Nature Conservancy, the international conservation organization. Click here to find out more about their organization.
GLOBAL RANK EXPLANATIONS
G1 Highly globally rare. Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity (typically 5 or fewer estimated occurrences or very few remaining individuals or acres) or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extinction.
G2 Globally rare. Imperiled globally because of rarity (typically 6 to 20 estimated occurrences or few remaining individuals or acres) or because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range.
G3 Either very rare and local throughout its range or distributed locally (or even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range (e.g., a single western state, a physiographic region in the East) or because of other factors making it vulnerable to extinction throughout its range; typically with 21 to 100 estimated occurrences.
G4 Apparently secure globally, although it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
G5 Demonstrably secure globally, although it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
G1 No known extant occurrences (i.e., formerly part of the established biota, with the expectation that it may be rediscovered).
GU Possibly in peril range-wide, but its status is uncertain; more information is needed.
GX Believed to be extinct throughout its range (e.g., passenger pigeon) with virtually no likelihood that it will be rediscovered.
G? The species has not yet been ranked.
Q Species containing a "Q" in the rank indicates that the taxon is of questionable or uncertain taxonomic standing (i.e., some taxonomists regard it as a full species, while other treat it at an infraspecific level).
T Ranks containing a "T" indicate that the infraspecific taxon is being ranked differently than the full species.
MARYLAND STATE RANKING EXPLANATIONS
S1 Highly State rare. Critically imperiled in Maryland because of extreme rarity (typically 5 or fewer estimated occurrences or very few remaining individuals or acres in the State) or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extirpation. Species with this rank are actively tracked by the Natural Heritage Program.
S2 State rare. Imperiled in Maryland because of rarity (typically 6 to 20 estimated occurrences or few remaining individuals or acres in the State) or because of some factor(s) making it vulnerable to becoming extirpated. Species with this rank are actively tracked by the Natural Heritage Program.
S3 Watch list. Rare to uncommon with the number of occurrences typically in the range of 21 to 80 in Maryland. These taxa often possess life history traits that predispose the taxon to rarity. These traits may include high habitat specificity, and/or area sensitivity, small population size, low fecundity, and narrow distribution within the State. Species with this rank are not actively tracked by the Natural Heritage Program.
S3.1 A "Watch list" species that is actively tracked by the Natural Heritage Program because of the global significance of Maryland occurrences. For instance, a G3 S3 species is globally rare to uncommon, and although it may not be currently threatened with extirpation in Maryland, its occurrences in Maryland may be critical to the long-term security of the species. Therefore, its status in the State is being monitored.
S4 Apparently secure in Maryland with typically more than 100 occurrences in the State or may have fewer occurrences if they contain large numbers of individuals. It is apparently secure under present conditions, although it may be restricted to only a portion of the State.
S5 Demonstrably secure in Maryland under present conditions.
SA Accidental or a vagrant in Maryland.
SE Established, but not native to Maryland; it may be native elsewhere in North America.
SH Historically known from Maryland, but not verified for an extended period (usually 20 or more years), with the expectation that it may be rediscovered.
SP Potentially occurring in Maryland or likely to have occurred in Maryland (but without persuasive documentation).
SR Reported from Maryland, but without persuasive documentation that would provide a basis for either accepting or rejecting the report (e.g., no voucher specimen exists).
SRF Reported falsely (in error) from Maryland, and the error may persist in the literature.
SU Possibly rare in Maryland, but of uncertain status for reasons including lack of historical records, low search effort, cryptic nature of the species, or concerns that the species may not be native to the State. Uncertainty spans a range of 4 or 5 ranks as defined above.
SX Believed to be extirpated from Maryland with virtually no chance of rediscovery.
S? The species has not yet been ranked.
B This species is a migrant and the rank refers only to the breeding status of the species. Such migrant may have a different rarity rank for non-breeding populations.
FEDERAL STATUS EXPLANATIONS
This is the status of a species as determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Office of Endangered Species, in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. Definitions for the following categories have been modified from 50 CRF 17.
LE Taxa listed as endangered; in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
LT Taxa listed as threatened; likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
PE Taxa proposed to be listed as endangered.
PT Taxa proposed to be listed as threatened.
C Candidate taxa for listing for which the Service has on file enough substantial information on biological vulnerability and threat(s) to support proposals to list them as endangered or threatened.
MARYLAND - STATE STATUS EXPLANATIONS
This is the status of a species as determined by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, in accordance with the Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act. Definitions for the following categories have been taken from Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 08.03.08.
E Endangered; a species whose continued existence as a viable component of the State's flora or fauna is determined to be in jeopardy.
I In Need of Conservation; an animal species whose population is limited or declining in the State such that it may become threatened in the foreseeable future if current trends or conditions persist.
T Threatened; a species of flora or fauna which appears likely, within the foreseeable future, to become endangered in the State.
X Endangered Extirpated; a species that was once a viable component of the flora or fauna of the State, but for which no naturally occurring populations are known to exist in the State.
* A qualifier denoting the species is listed in a limited geographic area only.
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