Tegus Whiptail Lizards and Relatives: Teiidae

According to the World Conservation Union (IUCN), two species are Extinct, which means they are no longer in existence. In addition, two are Critically Endangered and face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, and one is Vulnerable and faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. The IUCN also describes two species as Data Deficient, which means that scientists do not have enough information to make a judgment about the threat of extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also lists two species as Threatened or likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. Many of the at-risk species naturally have low numbers because they only live on small islands. In this case, habitat destruction and/or collection can wipe out whole populations and possibly entire species.