Animals — entry 010 of 20

IUCN

Verified Aug 2026

The Red List API returns IUCN's species conservation assessments: extinction risk category, population trend, habitat, and threats, filtered by taxon, country, or region. A request needs a free API token from self-service sign-up, and the docs forbid commercial use of Red List data, pointing users to IBAT instead. The v4 host replaced the retired v3 API in 2025; old v3 tokens do not work on the new host.

wildlifeconservationbiodiversityendangered-speciesgovernment-data

Visit api.iucnredlist.org ↗Read the docs ↗Status ↗More Animals

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PricingFreeNo paid tier — free for the documented use case.

FormatsJSONResponses can be requested as JSON.

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Score84out of 100

Authentication15/25API key required

Pricing20/20Free to use

Docs20/20Machine-readable spec file bundled

Formats9/15Single response format

Freshness20/20Verified within 6 months

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Endpoints

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Assessment1

Return assessment data relating to a specific <code>assessment_id</code>. You do not need to supply a latest <code>assessment_id</code>; you can therefore return data on latest and historic assessments if the <code>assessment_id</code> is known. You can gather a list of current and historic <code>assessment_id</code> for a specific species by using <code>api/v4/taxa/scientific_name/{scientific_name}</code>

GET/api/v4/assessment/{assessment_id}Retrieves an assessment

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`assessment_id`	path	yes	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	assessment found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	not found	—

Biogeographical Realms2

Return the latest assessments for a biogeographical realm.

GET/api/v4/biogeographical_realms/Returns a list of biogeographic realm codes

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/biogeographical_realms/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a biogeographical realm code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	biogeographical realm found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	biogeographical realm not found	—

Comprehensive Groups2

Return the latest assessments for a comprehensive group

GET/api/v4/comprehensive_groups/Returns a list of comprehensive groups

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/comprehensive_groups/{name}Returns a collection of assessments for a comprehensive group name

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`name`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	comprehensive group found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	comprehensive group not found	—

Conservation Actions2

Description coming soon...

GET/api/v4/conservation_actions/returns a list of conservation actions

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/conservation_actions/{code}returns a collection of assessments for a conservation action code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	conservation action found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	conservation action not found	—

Countries2

Return the latest assessments for a given country.

GET/api/v4/countries/Returns a list of countries by ISO alpha-2 code

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/countries/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a given country ISO alpha-2 code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	country found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	country not found	—

FAOs2

Documentation coming soon..

GET/api/v4/faos/Returns a list of FAOs

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/faos/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for an FAO code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	fao found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	fao not found	—

Growth Forms2

Return the latest assessments for a given growth form.

GET/api/v4/growth_forms/Returns a list of growth forms

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/growth_forms/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a given growth form code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	measure found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	measure not found	—

Green Status1

Return the latest Green Status assessments.

GET/api/v4/green_status/allReturns a list of all Green Status assessments

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

Habitats2

Return the latest assessments for a given habitat (e.g. Forest - Temperate or Marine Intertidal). These habitat codes correspond to the IUCN Red List Habitats Classification Scheme (v3.1)

GET/api/v4/habitats/Returns a list of habitat codes.

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/habitats/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a given habitat code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	habitat found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	habitat not found	—

Information2

Endpoints for supplying general API-specific information.

GET/api/v4/information/api_versionReturns the current version number of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species API

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/information/red_list_versionReturns the current IUCN Red List of Threatened Species version

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

Population Trends2

Return a list of the latest assessments based on a population trend (i.e. increasing, decreasing stable or unknown)

GET/api/v4/population_trends/Returns a list of population trends

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/population_trends/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a given population trend code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	population trend found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	population trend not found	—

Red List Categories2

Return a list of the latest assessments for a given category. (Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild and Extinct).

GET/api/v4/red_list_categories/Returns a list of Red List categories

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/red_list_categories/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a given Red List category code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	red list category found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	red list category not found	—

Research2

Return a list of the latest assessments for a given research category.

GET/api/v4/research/Returns a list of habitat codes.

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/research/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a given research code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	research found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	research not found	—

Scopes2

Return latest assessments for a given geographical assessment scope (e.g. Global, Mediterranean)

GET/api/v4/scopes/returns a list of scopes

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/scopes/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a given scope code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	scope found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	scope not found	—

Statistics1

Return aggregated statistics.

GET/api/v4/statistics/countReturn count of the number of species with assessments

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

Stresses2

Return a list of the latest assessments based on the stresses species’ are subject to (e.g. Ecosystem degradation, species disturbance etc.)

GET/api/v4/stresses/Returns a list of stressors

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/stresses/{code}returns a collection of assessments for a given stress code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	stress found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	stress not found	—

Systems2

Return assessments belonging to broad systems (e.g. terrestrial, freshwater or marine)

GET/api/v4/systems/Returns a list of systems

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/systems/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a given system code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	system found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	system not found	—

Taxa14

Return summary assessment data at the species level and other higher taxonomic levels (kingdom to family, inclusive). When querying at the species level, the API returns the latest and historic assessment information.

GET/api/v4/taxa/class/Returns a list of all class names

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	class found	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/class/{class_name}Returns a collection of the latests assessments for a given class_name

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`class_name`	path	yes	string
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	class found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/family/Returns a list of all family names

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	family found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/family/{family_name}Returns a collection of the latests assessments for a given family_name

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`family_name`	path	yes	string
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	family found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/kingdom/Returns a list of all kingdom names

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	kingdom found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/kingdom/{kingdom_name}Returns a collection of the latests assessments for a given kingdom_name

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`kingdom_name`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	kingdom found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/order/Returns a list of all order names

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	order found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/order/{order_name}Returns a collection of the latests assessments for a given order_name

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`order_name`	path	yes	string
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	order found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/phylum/Returns a list of all phylum names

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	kingdom found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/phylum/{phylum_name}Returns a collection of the latests assessments for a given phylum_name

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`phylum_name`	path	yes	string
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	phylum found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/possibly_extinctReturns a collection of the all latest global assessments for taxa that are possibly extinct

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	assessments found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/possibly_extinct_in_the_wildReturns a collection of the all latest global assessments for taxa that are possibly extinct in the wild

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	assessments found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/scientific_nameReturns a collection of assessments for a given genus_name and species_name (i.e. Latin binomial) and optional infra_name (i.e. Latin trinomial)

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`genus_name`	query	yes	string
`species_name`	query	yes	string
`infra_name`	query	no	string
`subpopulation_name`	query	no	string

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	taxon found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	taxon not found	—

GET/api/v4/taxa/sis/{sis_id}Returns a collection of assessments for a given SIS id

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`sis_id`	path	yes	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	taxon found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	taxon not found	—

Threats2

Return a list of the latest assessments which are subject to a specific threat (e.g. energy production and mining, climate change and severe weather)

GET/api/v4/threats/Returns a list of threats

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/threats/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a given threat code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	threat found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	threat not found	—

Use and Trade2

Return a list of the latest assessments which are subject to a specific uses and trade.

GET/api/v4/use_and_trade/Returns a list of use and trades

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	successful	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

GET/api/v4/use_and_trade/{code}Returns a collection of assessments for a given use and trade code

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`code`	path	yes	string
`page`	query	no	integer
`year_published`	query	no	integer
`latest`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct`	query	no	boolean
`possibly_extinct_in_the_wild`	query	no	boolean
`scope_code`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	use and trade found	—
`401`	unauthorised	—
`404`	Use and trade code not found	—

AssessmentSearch1

GET/api/v4/assessment_searchSearches for assessments

Parameters

Name	In	Required	Type
`filter_on[]`	query	yes	array
`page`	query	no	integer

Responses

Status	Description	Schema
`200`	valid filter_on	—
`400`	empty search options	—
`401`	unauthorised	—

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Developer reference

Base URLhttps://api.iucnredlist.org

Key endpoints

GET/api/v4/information/red_list_version
GET/api/v4/countries/
GET/api/v4/taxa/scientific_name
GET/api/v4/red_list_categories/

Changelog

Spec versionv4

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Aug 2026gained a summary, a docs link, an OpenAPI spec, a pricing model and a status page

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