The State Rank reflects the conservation status of a species from a local perspective, characterizing the relative rarity or imperilment of the species within the state of New Mexico. The status of an element is indicated on a scale of one to five; the score is based on the estimated number of extant occurrences of the element and other factors such as trends, threats and abundance.

Note: This is a list of the most commonly encountered ranks. For additional ranks, print or view our Adobe PDF list of rank and status codes.      

BASIC STATE RANKS

SX = Presumed Extirpated
Believed to be extirpated. Not located despite intensive searches and virtually no likelihood that it will be rediscovered.

SH = Possibly Extirpated
Known only from historical occurrences. Still some hope of rediscovery.

S1 = Critically Imperiled
Critically imperiled in the state because of extreme rarity or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extirpation. Typically 5 or fewer occurrences or very few remaining individuals (<1,000).

S2 = Imperiled
Imperiled in the state because of extreme rarity or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extirpation. Typically 6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining individuals (1,000 to 3,000).

S3 = Vulnerable
Vulnerable in the state either because very rare and local throughout its range, found only in a restricted range (even if abundant at some locations) , or because of other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation. Typically 21 to 100 occurrences or between 3,000 and 10,000 individuals

S4 = Apparently Secure
Uncommon but not rare, and usually widespread. Possibly cause for long­term concern. Typically more than 100 occurrences in the state or more than 10,000 individuals.

S5 = Secure
Common, typically widespread and abundant.

VARIANT STATE RANKS

S#S# = Range Rank
A numeric range rank (e.g., S2S3) is used to indicate uncertainty about the exact status of a taxon.

SA = Accidental
Accidental or casual in NM. In other words, infrequent and outside usual range. Includes species (usually birds or butterflies) recorded once or only a few times at a location.

SE = Exotic
An exotic established in state; may be native elsewhere in North America; includes fish native to NM but introduced into watersheds where the species is non-native. An exotic established in NM may be assigned a numeric rank (e.g. SE2) to indicate its status, as defined for S1 through S5.

SU = Unrankable
Currently unrankable due to lack of available information about status or trends.

S? = Unranked
Provincial rank not yet assessed.

HYB = Hybrid

RANK QUALIFIERS

? = Inexact numeric rank
Denotes inexact numeric rank.

Q = Questionable taxonomy
Taxonomic status is questionable; numeric rank may change with taxonomy.

C = Captive or cultivated only
Taxon at present is extant only in captivity or cultivation, or as a reintroduced population not yet established.

B = Breeding
The associated rank refers to breeding occurrences of mobile animals.

N = Non-breeding
The associated rank refers to non-breeding occurrences of mobile animals.

Z = Moving
Occurs in the state, but as a diffuse, usually moving population; difficult or impossible to map static occurrences.

INFRASPECIFIC TAXON RANKS

T = Infraspecific Taxon (trinomial) The status of infraspecific taxa (subspecies or varieties) are indicated by a "T-rank" following the species' state rank. Rules for assigning T ranks follow the same principles outlined above. For example, the state rank of a critically imperiled subspecies of an otherwise widespread and common species would be S5T1.