Defining a threatened species
Southern Toadlet - Endangered.
The term 'threatened species' generally refers to those species or taxa which have been assessed against specific criteria to determine their status in terms of extinction risk. Assessments can be quite detailed and consider factors such as population or sub population size, the level and composition of population reduction, the extent and decline across a species geographic range, the fragmentation of populations and decline in the extent and suitability of habitat.
Subject to findings of the assessment process a species may be assigned a particular level of threat; Extinct (EX), Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU), Conservation dependent (CD), Threatened (Th).
The term 'threatened species' is applied to those species which are considered either; Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, or Extinct.
Types of threatened species listings
During 2015, Australian states and territories signed an Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding - an Agreement on a common assessment method for listing of threatened species and threatened ecological communities. A common assessment method enables each jurisdiction to have a Single Operational List of threatened species and communities which is assessed using the same criteria across Australia.
Advisory Lists replaced by FFG Threatened List
In June 2021, the following advisory lists were replaced by a single operational list called the FFG Threatened List (Flora and Fauna Guarantee Threatened List) in which all species have been assessed using a common assessment process consistent across Australia:
- Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria 2014
- Advisory List of Rare or Threatened Plants in Victoria 2005
- Advisory List of Threatened Invertebrate Fauna in Victoria 2009
Advisory List were non-legislative lists, developed and managed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and were intended to increase community awareness of threatened species and provide a resource for individuals, groups and organisations involved with biodiversity conservation.
The FFG Threatened List is administered by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The IUCN Red List provides information on plants and animals that are facing a higher risk of global extinction. The lists provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on plants and animals that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Criteria. 2001 IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria version 3.1. Note these documents are periodically revised therefore it is recommended to check the IUCN web site for any revisions.
Legislated Lists of Threatened Species
There are two primary lists of threatened species which are enshrined in legislation that relate to Victoria;
- Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act)
- Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
In both cases for a species to be included in the respective legislation it must have been nominated, assessed by the relevant Scientific Committee and approved by the relevant Minister.
- EPBC Act List of Threatened Fauna
- EPBC Act List of Threatened flora
- Categories of Threatened Species under the EPBC Act 1999
- FFG Threatened List - February 2024
Threatened species Action Statements are required under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Under the Act the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action must prepare an Action Statement for each listed species. Further information on the process of developing Action Statements and to search for completed statements visit the DEECA Action Statement page.
The Australian Government Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 maps a pathway to protect, manage and restore Australia’s threatened species and important natural places.
Overview of threatened species in Victoria
The following information is based on the Victorian FFG Threatened List (June 2023).
Victoria has 2,004 species on the FFG Threatened List, comprising:
- 293 species of vertebrate fauna (52 mammals, 106 birds, 41 reptiles, 15 amphibians, and 38 fishes).
- 45 species of crustations
- 1558 vascular plants
- 60 non-vascular species
- 8 species of fungi and lichen
- 178 species of invertebrates
These include threatened species as well as species which are considered; Extinct, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable.
Table of Victorian threatened fauna
Derived from FFG Threatened List - June 2023. Note: numbers in brackets derived from Victorian Advisory List (2014)
Mammals | Birds | Reptiles | Amphibians | Fish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extinct | 13 (1) | 2 (0) | 1 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0) |
| Critically endangered | 6 (5) | 28 (12) | 15 (14) | 7 (8) | 15 (11) |
| Endangered | 16 (8) | 40 (29) | 24 (11) | 7 (4) | 14 (6) |
| Vulnerable | 16 (10) | 36 (48) | 1 (10) | 1 (3) | 4 (3) |
Total | 51 (24) | 106 (89) | 41 (35) | 15 (15) | 35 (20) |
Table of Victorian flora
Derived from FFG Threatened List - June 2023. Note: numbers in brackets derived from Victorian Flora Advisory List (2005)
Vascular plants | Non- Vascular plants | Fungi & Lichens | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extinct | 30 | 1 (2) | |
| Critically Endangered | 427 | 27 | 2 |
| Endangered | 885 (270) | 29 (10) | 6 (3) |
| Vulnerable | 215 (475) | 3 (18) | 2 |
| Rare* | (804) | 30 | 4 |
| Poorly known* | (228) | 77 | 0 |
| Total | 1557 (1777) | 60 (135) | 8 (9) |
* These classifications are no longer used as part of the FFG Threatened List.
Table of Victorian flora and fauna listed under the FFG Threatened List - June 2023 (and as at February 2014)
| No. of FFG Act Species listed at June 2023 and (Feb. 2014) | |
|---|---|
| Mammals | 52 (40) |
| Birds | 106 (76) |
| Reptiles | 41 (28) |
| Amphibians | 15 (11) |
| Fishes | 38 (25) |
| Crustaceans | 45 (19) |
| Echinoderms | 8 (7) |
| Insects | 58 (35) |
| Cnidarians | 2 (1) |
| Molluscs | 11 (10) |
| Platyhelminths | 1 |
| Annelids | 1 |
| Vascular Plants | 1558 (337) |
| Non Vascular Plants | 60 (19) |
| Fungi & Lichens | 8 (3) |
| Total | 2004 (611) |
Downey Star-bush (Asterolasia phebalioides) - Vulnerable
In addition to the above species listings there are 42 Victorian flora & fauna communities listed under the Victorian FFG Threatened List - June 2023.
Extinctions in Victoria
| Extinct in Victoria | Regionally Extinct |
|---|---|
| Brush-tailed Bettong (eastern sub, sp. | Chirruping Wedgebill |
| Southern Bettong (mainland subspecies) | Night Parrot |
| Eastern Hare Wallaby | Small-scaled Snake |
| Lesser Stick-nest Rat | Bolam's Mouse |
| Long-eared Mouse | Bridled Nailtail Wallaby |
| Pig-footed Bandicoot | Desert Mouse |
| Short-nosed bandicoot (inland form) | Eastern Quoll |
| Western Barred Bandicoot (eastern subspecies) | Greater Stick-nest Rat |
| White-footed Rabbit Rat | Red-tailed Phascogale |
| 30 species of Vascular Plants | Rufous Bettong |
| 1 species of Non-Vascular Plant | Rufous-bellied Pademelon |
|
| Western Quoll |
|
| Agassiz's Chanda Perch |
|
| Freshwater Herring |
|
| Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon |