candidate species

American  

[kan-di-deyt spee-sheez, spee-seez, kan-di-dit] / ˈkæn dɪˌdeɪt ˌspi ʃiz, ˌspi siz, ˈkæn dɪ dɪt /

noun

Biology, Ecology.

1. any plant or animal species that is a candidate for designation as an endangered species or threatened species.

   Thanks to conservation efforts, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service no longer classifies this New England rabbit as a candidate species.

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candidate species Scientific  

/ kăn′dĭ-dāt′ /

1. A plant or animal species that is classified by a government agency as a candidate for possible listing as an endangered or threatened species.

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Etymology

Origin of candidate species

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

In this swath of the state, mountain lions are listed as a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2023

There are 1,116 imperiled species on the list, an additional 3,600 candidate species behind them.

From Time Magazine Archive