Heard & McDonald Islands

5 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

5

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

1

Highest risk

Endangered

1

Very high risk

Vulnerable

3

High risk

Declining

40%

2 species

Category Breakdown
CR 1
EN 1
VU 3
CR: 1
EN: 1
VU: 3

Critically Endangered

120%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

120%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

360%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 5 species

Species by Group
🐟

fishes

2

2 threatened

🐦

birds

1

1 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

1

1 threatened

🍄

fungi

1

1 threatened

Global Share

0.01%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#246

of 250 countries

Endemic Threatened

0

Found only here

Top Threats
1.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources2 species
2.Bottom trawling and deep-sea fishing1 species
3.Climate change altering microhabitat conditions1 species
4.Climate change and warming waters1 species
5.Climate change impacts on island ecosystems1 species
6.Habitat degradation from invasive plants1 species
7.Habitat destruction from marine infrastructure1 species
8.Habitat loss from agricultural conversion1 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). Heard & McDonald Islands: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/HM

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 Heard & McDonald Islands?
Heard & McDonald Islands has 5 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 1 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 Heard & McDonald Islands have?
Of the 5 threatened species in Heard & McDonald Islands, 1 are Critically Endangered, 1 are Endangered, and 3 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Heard & McDonald Islands?
Among the 1 Critically Endangered species in Heard & McDonald Islands, Rosette Pixie-cup Lichen (Cladonia pocillum) 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 Heard & McDonald Islands?
SpeciesRadar does not yet catalogue protected areas for Heard & McDonald Islands. 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 Heard & McDonald Islands?
The most affected groups in Heard & McDonald Islands, by number of threatened species, are fishes (2), birds (1), and other invertebrates (1). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Heard & McDonald Islands?
The leading threats to threatened species in Heard & McDonald Islands are fishing & harvesting aquatic resources, bottom trawling and deep-sea fishing, climate change altering microhabitat conditions, and climate change and warming waters. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many of Heard & McDonald Islands's threatened species have declining populations?
2 of Heard & McDonald Islands'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 Heard & McDonald Islands compare to other countries for threatened species?
Heard & McDonald Islands ranks #246 of 250 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 0.01% 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 Heard & McDonald Islands 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 Heard & McDonald Islands profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.