Ecuador

Ecuador

2,031 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

2,031

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

352

Highest risk

Endangered

795

Very high risk

Vulnerable

884

High risk

Declining

45%

921 species

Category Breakdown
CR 352
EN 795
VU 884
CR: 352
EN: 795
VU: 884

Critically Endangered

35217%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

79539%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

88444%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 2,031 species

Species by Group
🌱

plants

1,282

1282 threatened

🐸

amphibians

299

299 threatened

🐟

fishes

96

96 threatened

🐦

birds

92

92 threatened

🐢

reptiles

83

83 threatened

🐾

mammals

52

52 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

49

49 threatened

🦗

insects

34

34 threatened

🪸

corals

17

17 threatened

🍄

fungi

15

15 threatened

🦀

crustaceans

6

6 threatened

🐚

molluscs

5

5 threatened

🕷️

arachnids

1

1 threatened

Global Share

3.64%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#9

of 253 countries

Endemic Threatened

1,209

Found only here

Conservation Outlook

Outlook: Deteriorating

Ecuador's biodiversity significance stems from its position straddling the equator across four distinct regions: the Amazon rainforest, Andean highlands, Pacific coastal plains, and the Galápagos Islands. This compact nation contains portions of two biodiversity hotspots—the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena and Tropical Andes—creating exceptional species endemism. The country hosts approximately 4% of global species despite covering only 0.17% of Earth's surface.

The IUCN Red List 2025 data reveals an alarming situation: all 51 assessed species are critically endangered, spanning mammals, birds, amphibians, and invertebrates. The Amazon region faces pressure from oil extraction, mining, and agricultural expansion, particularly affecting endemic amphibians in cloud forests. Coastal mangroves suffer from shrimp farming expansion, while highland páramo ecosystems experience degradation from cattle grazing and potato cultivation.

The Galápagos faces invasive species introductions and tourism pressure on endemic fauna.

Ecuador's constitutional recognition of nature's rights represents groundbreaking environmental legislation. The Socio Bosque program compensates landowners for forest conservation, while marine protected areas around the Galápagos have expanded significantly. However, the universal critically endangered status of assessed species indicates conservation efforts are insufficient to reverse current trends, suggesting the situation continues deteriorating despite legal frameworks and protected area designations.

Amazon RainforestAndean Cloud ForestPáramoMangrovesGalápagos Endemic EcosystemsChocó Rainforest
Top Threats
1.Logging & wood harvesting1,008 species
2.Annual & perennial non-timber crops837 species
3.Livestock farming & ranching307 species
4.Mining & quarrying285 species
5.Housing & urban areas246 species
6.Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases167 species
7.Habitat fragmentation159 species
8.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources146 species

Protected Areas

34 areas · 248,296 km²

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). Ecuador: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/EC

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 Ecuador?
Ecuador has 2,031 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 352 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 Ecuador have?
Of the 2,031 threatened species in Ecuador, 352 are Critically Endangered, 795 are Endangered, and 884 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Ecuador?
Among the 352 Critically Endangered species in Ecuador, Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis guntheri) 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 Ecuador?
Ecuador has 34 protected areas catalogued on SpeciesRadar, sourced from the WDPA and national designations. Notable sites include Chocó Andino de Pichincha, Galápagos, Podocarpus-El Cóndor, and Sumaco, among 30 others. The full list is sortable and downloadable on the Protected Areas tab.
Which animal and plant groups are most threatened in Ecuador?
The most affected groups in Ecuador, by number of threatened species, are plants (1,282), amphibians (299), and fishes (96). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Ecuador?
The leading threats to threatened species in Ecuador are logging & wood harvesting, annual & perennial non-timber crops, livestock farming & ranching, and mining & quarrying. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many threatened species are found only in Ecuador?
Ecuador has 1,209 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 Ecuador's threatened species have declining populations?
921 of Ecuador'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 Ecuador compare to other countries for threatened species?
Ecuador ranks #9 of 253 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 3.64% 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 Ecuador 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 Ecuador profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.