What are some qualities common to endangered species?

For the past 400 years, humans have been the leading cause of animal extinctions humans are responsible for approximately 75 percent of the extinctions during this period. Habitat destruction is a primary cause for these extinctions, but overharvest and introduced species also cause species extinction. Regardless of the causes, many endangered animals share similar traits, such as extreme habitat or food specialization, large size and slow reproductive rates.

1. Endemic species, or animals and plants that are restricted to a relatively small area, such as an island, are inherently vulnerable to extinction. They have incurred the greatest number of extinctions in the past 400 years.