SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED
Species of greatest conservation need are those animals, both aquatic and terrestrial, that
are at risk or are declining in Texas. They include threatened and endangered
species, as well as many other species whose populations are of concern in our State.
Key to Symbols
Status
FE,SE - Federally or State endangered species or population.
FT,ST - Federally or State threatened species or population.
FC,SC - Species of concern at the federal or state level.
| Birds |
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| Species Name |
Common Name |
Priority |
Federal |
State |
| **Charadrius melodus |
**Piping plover |
High |
FT |
ST |
| **Dendroica chrysoparia |
**Golden-cheeked warbler |
High |
FE |
SE |
| **Grus americana |
**Whooping crane |
High |
FE |
SE |
| **Picoides borealis |
**Red-cockaded woodpecker |
High |
FE |
SE |
| **Sterna antillarum |
**Least tern (interior) |
High |
FE |
SE |
| **Tympanuchus cupido attwateri |
**Greater prairie-chicken (Attwater's) |
High |
FE |
SE |
| **Vireo atricapillus |
**Black-capped vireo |
High |
FE |
SE |
| Aimophila aestivalis |
Bachman's sparrow |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Aimophila botterii |
Botteri's sparrow |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Amazona viridigenalis |
Red-crowned parrot |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Ammodramus henslowii |
Henslow's sparrow |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Anas acuta |
Northern pintail |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Anas fulvigula |
Mottled duck |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Anthus spragueii |
Sprague's pipit |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Aquila chrysaetos |
Golden eagle |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Athene cunicularia |
Burrowing owl |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Buteo regalis |
Ferruginous hawk |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Calothorax lucifer |
Lucifer hummingbird |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Charadrius alexandrinus |
Snowy plover |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Charadrius montanus |
Mountain plover |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Charadrius wilsonia |
Wilson's plover |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Circus cyaneus |
Northern harrier |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Colinus virginianus |
Northern bobwhite |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Dendroica cerulea |
Cerulean warbler |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Egretta caerulea |
Little blue heron |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Falco peregrinus anatum |
American peregrine falcon |
High |
SC |
SE/ST |
| Falco sparverius |
American kestrel (southeastern) |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Geothlypis trichas |
Common yellowthroat (Brownsville) |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Helmitheros vermivorum |
Worm-eating warbler |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Laterallus jamaicensis |
Black rail |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Limnothlypis swainsonii |
Swainson's warbler |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Numenius americanus |
Long-billed curlew |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Oporornis formosus |
Kentucky warbler |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Rallus elegans |
King rail |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Seiurus motacilla |
Louisiana waterthrush |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Sturnella magna |
Eastern meadowlark |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Tryngites subruficollis |
Buff-breasted sandpiper |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Tympanuchus pallidicinctus |
Lesser prairie-chicken |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Vermivora chrysoptera |
Golden-winged warbler |
High |
SC |
SC |
| **Mycteria americana |
**Wood stork |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Aimophila cassinii |
Cassin's sparrow |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Ammodramus bairdii |
Baird's sparrow |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Ammodramus leconteii |
Le Conte's sparrow |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Asio flammeus |
Short-eared owl |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Aythya affinis |
Lesser scaup |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Aythya americana |
Redhead |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Buteo swainsoni |
Swainson's hawk |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Calcarius pictus |
Smith's longspur |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Calidris canutus |
Red knot |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Caprimulgus carolinensis |
Chuck-will's-widow |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Coturnicops noveboracensis |
Yellow rail |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Cyrtonyx montezumae |
Montezuma quail |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Dendroica discolor |
Prairie warbler |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Egretta rufescens |
Reddish egret |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Elanoides forficatus |
Swallow-tailed kite |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Eremophila alpestris |
Horned lark |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Euphagus carolinus |
Rusty blackbird |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
Bald eagle |
Med |
FT |
ST |
| Icterus cucullatus |
Hooded oriole (both Mexican & Sennett's) |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Icterus graduacauda |
Audubon's oriole |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Icterus spurius |
Orchard oriole |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Lanius ludovicianus |
Loggerhead shrike |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Limnodromus griseus |
Short-billed dowitcher |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
Red-headed woodpecker |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Micrathene whitneyi |
Elf owl |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Otus flammeolus |
Flammulated owl |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Pachyramphus aglaiae |
Rose-throated becard |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Parabuteo unicinctus |
Harris's hawk |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Passerina ciris |
Painted bunting |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Pegadis chihi |
White-faced ibis |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Picoides villosus |
Hairy woodpecker |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Protonotaria citrea |
Prothonotary warbler |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Rynchops niger |
Black skimmer |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Setophaga ruticilla |
American redstart |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Sitta pusilla |
Brown-headed nuthatch |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Sterna nilotica |
Gull-billed tern |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Thryomanes bewickii |
Bewick's wren (eastern) |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Tyto alba |
Barn owl |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Recurvirostra americana |
American avocet |
Med |
SC |
SC |
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| ** Listed Species with Recovery Plans |
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| Mammals |
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| Species Name |
Common Name |
Priority |
Federal |
State |
| **Corynorhinus townsendii |
**Townsend's big-eared bat |
High |
SC |
SC |
| **Leopardus pardalis |
**Ocelot |
High |
FE |
SE |
| Corynorhinus rafinesquii |
Rafinesque's big-eared bat |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Dipodomys compactus compactus |
Padre Island kangaroo rat |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Myotis austroriparius |
Southeastern myotis |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Nasua narica |
White-nosed coati |
High |
SC |
ST |
| **Leptonycteris nivalis |
**Mexican/Greater longnosed bat |
Med |
FE |
SE |
| **Ursus americanus luteolus |
**Louisiana black bear |
Med |
FT |
ST |
| Antilocapra americana |
Pronghorn |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Blarina hylophaga plumblea |
Elliot’s short-tailed shrew |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Chaetodipus nelsoni |
Nelson's pocket mouse |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Conepatus leuconotus |
Hog-nosed skunk |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Cynomys ludovicianus |
Black-tailed prairie dog |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Dipodomys elator |
Texas kangaroo rat |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Dipodomys spectabilis |
Banner-tailed kangaroo rat |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Geomys attwateri |
Attwaters pocket gopher |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Geomys aurenarius |
Desert pocket gopher |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Geomys streckerii |
Strecker's pocket gopher |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Lutra canadensis |
River otter |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Mephitis macroura |
Hooded skunk |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Mustela frenata |
Long-tailed weasel |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Mustela nigripes |
Black-footed ferret |
Med |
FE |
SE |
| Oryzomys couesi aquaticus |
Coues rice rat |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Peromyscus truei comanche |
Palo Duro mouse |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Puma concolor |
Mountain lion |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Spilogale gracilis |
Western spotted skunk |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Spilogale putorius |
Eastern spotted skunk |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Sylvilagus robustus |
Davis Mountain cottontail |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Tamias canipes |
Gray-footed chipmunk |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Taxidea taxus |
American badger |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Thomomys bottae guadalupensis |
Southern pocket gopher |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Ursus americanus |
Black bear |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Vulpes velox |
Swift fox (kit fox) |
Med |
SC |
SC |
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| ** Listed Species with Recovery Plans |
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| Top of Page |
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| Fish |
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| Species Name |
Common Name |
Priority |
Federal |
State |
| Campostoma ornatum |
Mexican stoneroller |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Cycleptus elongatus |
Blue sucker |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Cyprinella lepida |
Plateau shiner |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Cyprinella proserpina |
Proserpine shiner |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Cyprinella sp. |
Nueces river shiner |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Cyprinodon eximius |
Conchos pupfish |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Cyprinodon eximius ssp |
Devils River pupfish |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Cyprinodon pecosensis |
Pecos pupfish |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis |
Red River pupfish |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Etheostoma grahami |
Rio Grande darter |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Gambusia clarkhubbsi |
San Felipe gambusia |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Gambusia gaigei |
Big Bend gambusia |
High |
FE |
SE |
| Gambusia senilis |
Blotched gambusia |
High |
SC |
SE/ST |
| Gila pandora |
Rio Grande chub |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Ictalurus lupus |
Headwater catfish |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Ictalurus sp. |
Chihuahua catfish |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Macrhybopsis aestivalis |
Speckled chub |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Macrhybopsis marconis |
Burrhead chub |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Menidia clarkhubbsi |
Unisexual silverside |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Micropterus salmoides nuecensis |
|
High |
SC |
SC |
| Notropis braytoni |
Tamaulipas shiner |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Notropis buccula |
Smalleye shiner |
High |
FC |
SC |
| Notropis chalybaeus |
Ironcolor shiner |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Notropis chihuahua |
Chihuahua shiner |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Notropis jemezanus |
Rio Grande shiner |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Notropis oxyrhynchus |
Sharpnose shiner |
High |
FC |
SC |
| Notropis potteri |
Chub shiner |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Pteronotropis hubbsi |
Bluehead shiner |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Rhinichthys cataractae |
Longnose dace |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Satan eurystomus |
Widemouth blindcat |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Scartomyzon austrinus |
West Mexican redhorse |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Trogloglanis pattersoni |
Toothless blindcat |
High |
SC |
ST |
| **Cyprinodon bovinus |
**Leon Springs pupfish |
Med |
FE |
SE |
| **Cyprinodon elegans |
**Comanche Springs pupfish |
Med |
FE |
SE |
| **Etheostoma fonticola |
**Fountain darter |
Med |
FE |
SE |
| **Gambusia heterochir |
**Clear Creek gambusia |
Med |
FE |
SE |
| **Gambusia nobilis |
**Pecos gambusia |
Med |
FE |
SE |
| Ammocrypta clara |
Western sand darter |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Anguilla rostrata |
American eel |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Awaous banana |
River goby |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Dionda argentosa |
Manantial roundnose minnow |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Dionda diaboli |
Devils River minnow |
Med |
FT |
ST |
| Dionda episcopa |
Roundnose minnow |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Dionda nigrotaeniata |
Guadalupe roundnose minnow |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Dionda serena |
Nueces roundnose minnow |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Gobionellus atripinnis |
Blackfin goby |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Macrhybopsis australis |
Prairie chub |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Macryhbopsis storeriana |
Silver chub |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Microphis brachyurus |
Opossum pipefish |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Micropterus treculi |
Guadalupe bass |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Notropis atrocaudalis |
Blackspot shiner |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Notropis bairdi |
Red River shiner |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Notropis maculatus |
Taillight shiner |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Notropis sabinae |
Sabine shiner |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Notropis shumardi |
Silverband shiner |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Oncorhynchus clarki virginalis |
Rio Grande cutthroat trout |
Med |
FE |
SE |
| Percina maculata |
Blackside darter |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Scaphirhynchus platorynchus |
Shovelnose sturgeon |
Med |
SC |
ST |
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| ** Listed Species with Recovery Plans |
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| Reptiles and Amphibians |
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| Species Name |
Common Name |
Priority |
Federal |
State |
| **Bufo houstonensis |
**Houston toad |
High |
FE |
SE |
| **Eurycea nana |
**San Marcos salamander |
High |
FT |
ST |
| **Eurycea rathbuni |
**Texas blind salamander |
High |
FE |
SE |
| Eurycea chisholmensis |
Salado salamander |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Eurycea latitans |
Cascade Caverns salamander |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Eurycea naufragia |
Georgetown salamander |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Eurycea neotenes |
Texas salamander |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Eurycea pterophila |
Fern bank salamander |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Eurycea robusta |
Blanco blind salamander |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Eurycea sosorum |
Barton Springs salamander |
High |
FE |
SE |
| Eurycea spp. |
Central Texas spring salamanders |
High |
FE/FT |
SE/ST |
| Eurycea tonkawae |
Jollyville plateau salamander |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Eurycea tridentifera |
Comal blind salamander |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Eurycea troglodytes |
Valdina Farms salamander (2 sp.) |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Eurycea waterlooensis |
Austin blind salamander |
High |
SC |
SC |
| Phrynosoma cornutum |
Texas horned lizard |
High |
SC |
ST |
| Pituophis ruthveni |
Louisiana pinesnake |
High |
FC |
ST |
| Terrapene spp. |
Box turtles |
High |
SC |
SC |
| **Graptemys spp. |
**Map turtles |
Med |
FC |
ST |
| **Lepidochelys kempii |
**Kemp’s ridley sea turtle |
Med |
FE |
SE |
| Crotalus horridus |
Timber rattlesnake |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Malaclemys terrapin |
Diamond-backed terrapin |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Nerodia harteri |
Brazos watersnake |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Notophthalmus meridionalis |
Black-spotted newt |
Med |
SC |
ST |
| Pseudemys gorzugi |
Rio Grande river cooter |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Rana areolata |
Crawfish frog |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Siren sp. |
Rio Grande (lesser) siren |
Med |
SC |
ST |
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| ** Listed Species with Recovery Plans |
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| Plants |
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| Species Name |
Common Name |
Priority |
Federal |
State |
| Potamogeton clystocarpus |
Little aguja pondweed |
High |
FE |
SE |
| Halodule wrightii |
Shoalgrass |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Halophila sp. |
Clovergrass |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Ruppia maritima |
Widgeongrass |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Syringonium filiforme |
Manateegrass |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Thalassia testudinum |
Turtlegrass |
Med |
SC |
SC |
| Zizania texana |
Texas wild-rice |
Med |
FE |
SE |