Species of Greatest Conservation Need

1279 species
Taxonomic Group
Federal Status
State Status
Endemic

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Species of Greatest Conservation Need (Updated: 01/31/2024)
Common Name Scientifc Name Taxonomic Group Federal Status State Status Global Rank State Rank Endemic General Habitat Type(s)
dunes sagebrush lizard Sceloporus arenicolus Reptiles Not Listed Not Listed G1 S1 False Terrestrial: Active and semi-stabilized sand dunes; dwarf shin-oak sandhills with sagebrush and yucca with open blowouts; burrows in sand or plant litter to escape predators.
pygmy rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius Reptiles Not Listed Not Listed G5 S2S3 False The pygmy rattlesnake occurs in a variety of wooded habitats from bottomland coastal hardwood forests to upland savannas. The species is frequently found in association with standing water.
western massasauga Sistrurus tergeminus Reptiles Not Listed Not Listed G3G4 S3 False Terrestrial: Shortgrass or mixed grass prairie, with gravel or sandy soils. Often found associated with draws, floodplains, and more mesic habitats within the arid landscape. Frequently occurs in shrub encroached grasslands.
Mexican blackhead snake Tantilla atriceps Reptiles Not Listed Not Listed G4 S1 False Terrestrial: Shrubland savanna.
Trans-Pecos black-headed snake Tantilla cucullata Reptiles Not Listed T G3 S2 True Terrestrial: Found rocky canyons or hillsides in mesquite-creosote and pinyon-juniper-oak forests, as well as grasslands.
eastern box turtle Terrapene carolina Reptiles Not Listed Not Listed G5 S3 False Terrestrial: Eastern box turtles inhabit forests, fields, forest-brush, and forest-field ecotones. In some areas they move seasonally from fields in spring to forest in summer. They commonly enters pools of shallow water in summer. For shelter, they burrow into loose soil, debris, mud, old stump holes, or under leaf litter. They can successfully hibernate in sites that may experience subfreezing temperatures.
western box turtle Terrapene ornata Reptiles Not Listed Not Listed G5 S3 False Terrestrial: Ornate or western box trutles inhabit prairie grassland, pasture, fields, sandhills, and open woodland. They are essentially terrestrial but sometimes enter slow, shallow streams and creek pools. For shelter, they burrow into soil (e.g., under plants such as yucca) (Converse et al. 2002) or enter burrows made by other species.
Texas garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis annectens Reptiles Not Listed Not Listed G5T4 S1 True Terrestrial and aquatic: Habitats used include the grasslands and modified open areas in the vicinity of aquatic features, such as ponds, streams or marshes. Damp soils and debris for cover are thought to be critical.
Big Bend slider Trachemys gaigeae Reptiles Not Listed Not Listed G3 S2 False Aquatic: Rivers with permanent water; ponds, impoundments, and stock tanks along the Rio Grande; basks on shore, emergent rocks, logs, vegetation mats, or at water surface.
Chihuahuan Desert lyre snake Trimorphodon vilkinsonii Reptiles Not Listed Not Listed G4 S4 False Terrestrial: Rocky areas with plenty of crevices and fissures. Preferred habitats include rock piles, outcrops and talus slopes. Also occurs in desert flats, succulent and scrub, and mountain canyons to about 6000 feet.
loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta Reptiles - Marine LT T G3 S4 False Inhabits tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters worldwide, including the Gulf of Mexico. They migrate from feeding grounds to nesting beaches/barrier islands and some nesting does occur in Texas (April to September). Beaches that are narrow, steeply sloped, with coarse-grain sand are preffered for nesting. Newly hatched individuals depend on floating alage/seaweed for protection and foraging, which eventually transport them offshore and into open ocean. Juveniles and young adults spend their lives in open ocean, offshore before migrating to coastal areas to breed and nest. Foraging areas for adults include shallow continental shelf waters.
green sea turtle Chelonia mydas Reptiles - Marine LT T G3 S3B,S3N False Inhabits tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters worldwide, including the Gulf of Mexico. Adults and juveniles occupy inshore and nearshore areas, including bays and lagoons with reefs and seagrass. They migrate from feeding grounds (open ocean) to nesting grounds (beaches/barrier islands) and some nesting does occur in Texas (April to September). Adults are herbivorous feeding on sea grass and seaweed; juveniles are omnivorous feeding initially on marine invertebrates, then increasingly on sea grasses and seaweeds.
leatherback sea turtle Dermochelys coriacea Reptiles - Marine LE E G2 S1S2 False Inhabit tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters worldwide, including the Gulf of Mexico. Nesting is not common in Texas (March to July). Most pelagic of the seaturtles with the longest migration (>10,000 miles) between nesting and foraging sites. Are able to dive to depths of 4,000 feet. They are omnivorous, showing a preference for jellyfish.
Atlantic hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata Reptiles - Marine LE E G3 S2 False Inhabit tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, in the Gulf of Mexico, especially Texas. Hatchling and juveniles are found in open, pelagic ocean and closely associated with floating lgae/seagrass mats. Juveniles then migrate to shallower, coastal areas, mainly coral reefs and rocky areas, but also in bays and estuaries near mangroves when reefs are absent; seldom in water lmore than 65 feet deep. They feed on sponges, jellyfish, sea urchins, molluscs, and crustaceans. Nesting occurs from April to November high up on the beach where there is vegetation for cover and little or no sand. Some migrate, but others stay close to foraging areas - females are philopatric.
Kemp's Ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys kempii Reptiles - Marine LE E G1 S3 False Inhabits tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Adults are found in coastal waters with muddy or sandy bottoms. Some males migrate between feeding grounds and breeeding grounds, but some don't. Females migrate between feeding and nesting areas, often returning to the same destinations. Nesting in Texas occurs on a smaller scale compared to other areas (i.e. Mexico). Hatchlings are quickly swept out to open water and are rarely found nearshore. Similarly, juveniles often congregate near floating algae/seagrass mats offshore, and move into nearshore, coastal, neritic areas after 1-2 years and remain until they reach maturity. They feed primarily on crabs, but also snails, clams, other crustaceans and plants, juveniles feed on sargassum and its associated fauna; nests April through August.
Bigeye thresher shark Alopias superciliosus Sharks Not Listed Not Listed GNR SU False Gulf of Mexico
thresher shark Alopias vulpinus Sharks Not Listed Not Listed GNR SNR False Gulf of Mexico
blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus Sharks Not Listed Not Listed GNR S3 False Gulf of Mexico
bignose shark Carcharhinus altimus Sharks Not Listed Not Listed GNR SNR False Gulf of Mexico
narrowtooth shark Carcharhinus brachyurus Sharks Not Listed Not Listed GNR SNR False Gulf of Mexico
spinner shark Carcharhinus brevipinna Sharks Not Listed Not Listed GNR S3 False Gulf of Mexico
silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis Sharks Not Listed Not Listed G3 S3 False Gulf of Mexico
Galapagos shark Carcharhinus galapagensis Sharks Not Listed Not Listed GNR SNR False Gulf of Mexico
Finetooth Shark Carcharhinus isodon Sharks Not Listed Not Listed GNR SNR False Gulf of Mexico
Bull Shark Carcharhinus leucas Sharks Not Listed Not Listed G5 S5 False Gulf of Mexico