Cape Verde

158 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

158

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

43

Highest risk

Endangered

56

Very high risk

Vulnerable

59

High risk

Declining

35%

56 species

Category Breakdown
CR 43
EN 56
VU 59
CR: 43
EN: 56
VU: 59

Critically Endangered

4327%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

5635%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

5937%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 158 species

Species by Group
🌱

plants

60

60 threatened

🐟

fishes

42

42 threatened

🐦

birds

14

14 threatened

🐚

molluscs

14

14 threatened

🦗

insects

6

6 threatened

🐢

reptiles

5

5 threatened

🪸

corals

4

4 threatened

🐾

mammals

3

3 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

3

3 threatened

🍄

fungi

3

3 threatened

🦀

crustaceans

3

3 threatened

🕷️

arachnids

1

1 threatened

Global Share

0.28%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#151

of 250 countries

Endemic Threatened

64

Found only here

Top Threats
1.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources60 species
2.Logging & wood harvesting39 species
3.Annual & perennial non-timber crops29 species
4.Housing & urban areas28 species
5.Type Unknown/Unrecorded (pollution)28 species
6.Recreational activities25 species
7.Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases21 species
8.Marine & freshwater aquaculture19 species

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2026). Cape Verde: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/CV

Species counts reflect IUCN Red List threatened categories (CR, EN, VU). · Full citation guide & data usage terms

Frequently asked questions

How many threatened species are in Cape Verde?
Cape Verde has 158 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 43 of those are Critically Endangered, facing an extremely high risk of extinction. The figures combine IUCN Red List data with national red list assessments where available.
How many Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable species does Cape Verde have?
Of the 158 threatened species in Cape Verde, 43 are Critically Endangered, 56 are Endangered, and 59 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Cape Verde?
Among the 43 Critically Endangered species in Cape Verde, Conus salreiensis is one of the most at-risk — featured prominently on the country dashboard. The full list of Critically Endangered species is filterable on the Species tab.
What protected areas exist in Cape Verde?
SpeciesRadar does not yet catalogue protected areas for Cape Verde. Where available, protected-area data is drawn from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and national designations.
Which animal and plant groups are most threatened in Cape Verde?
The most affected groups in Cape Verde, by number of threatened species, are plants (60), fishes (42), and birds (14). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Cape Verde?
The leading threats to threatened species in Cape Verde are fishing & harvesting aquatic resources, logging & wood harvesting, annual & perennial non-timber crops, and housing & urban areas. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many threatened species are found only in Cape Verde?
Cape Verde has 64 threatened species that are endemic — found nowhere else on Earth. Because their entire global population depends on this one country, they are especially vulnerable to local habitat loss.
How many of Cape Verde's threatened species have declining populations?
56 of Cape Verde's threatened species have populations that are still declining. Reversing these trends is the central focus of the conservation work the country dashboard tracks.
How does Cape Verde compare to other countries for threatened species?
Cape Verde ranks #151 of 250 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 0.28% of all threatened species tracked worldwide. Threat is geographically concentrated, so a high rank reflects both rich biodiversity and intense pressure on it.
Where does the data for Cape Verde come from, and can I download it?
SpeciesRadar draws on the IUCN Red List, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the World Database on Protected Areas, and national red lists. Every table on the Cape Verde profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.