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)
eastern tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum Amphibians Not Listed Not Listed G5 S3 False Terrestrial adults generally occur under cover objects or in burrows surrounding a variety of lentic freshwater habitats, such as ponds, lakes, bottomland wetlands, or upland ephemeral pools. The specific terrestrial habitats are also varied and the occurrence of this species seems to be more closely associated with sandy, loamy or other soils which have easy burrowing properties, rather than any particular ecological system type. Requires fishless breeding pools for successful reproduction.
Houston toad Anaxyrus houstonensis Amphibians LE E G1 S1 True Terrestrial and aquatic: Primary terrestrial habitat is forests with deep sandy soils. Juveniles and adults are presumed to move through areas of less suitable soils using riparian corridors. Aquatic habitats can include any water body from a tire rut to a large lake.
Woodhouse's toad Anaxyrus woodhousii Amphibians Not Listed Not Listed G5 SU False Terrestrial and aquatic: A wide variety of terrestrial habitats are used by this species, including forests, grasslands, and barrier island sand dunes. Aquatic habitats are equally varied.
spotted dusky salamander Desmognathus conanti Amphibians Not Listed Not Listed G5 S1 False This species occurs in association with aquatic habitats in forested areas. Small, clear, spring fed streams with sandy substrate bordered with ferns and moss as well as murky, stagnant water bodies in cypress swamps, baygalls, and flood plains in bottomland forests support populations of this species.
Salado Springs salamander Eurycea chisholmensis Amphibians LT T G1 S1 True Aquatic; springs, streams and caves with rocky or cobble beds.
Cascade Caverns salamander Eurycea latitans Amphibians Not Listed T G3 S2 True Aquatic; springs, streams and caves with rocky or cobble beds.
San Marcos salamander Eurycea nana Amphibians LT T G1 S1 True Aquatic; springs and associated water.
Georgetown salamander Eurycea naufragia Amphibians LT T G1 S1 True Aquatic; springs, streams and caves with rocky or cobble beds.
Texas salamander Eurycea neotenes Amphibians Not Listed T G1G2 S1S2 True Aquatic; springs, streams and caves with rocky or cobble beds.
Texas blind salamander Eurycea rathbuni Amphibians LE E G1 S1 True Aquatic and subterranean; streams and caves.
Blanco blind salamander Eurycea robusta Amphibians Not Listed T G1 S1 True Aquatic and subterranean; streams and caves.
Barton Springs salamander Eurycea sosorum Amphibians LE E G1 S1 True Aquatic; springs, streams and caves with rocky or cobble beds.
Jollyville Plateau salamander Eurycea tonkawae Amphibians LT T G2 S2 True Aquatic; springs, streams and caves with rocky or cobble beds.
Austin blind salamander Eurycea waterlooensis Amphibians LE E G1 S1 True Aquatic and subterranean; streams and caves.
sheep frog Hypopachus variolosus Amphibians Not Listed T G5 S4 False Terrestrial and aquatic: Predominantly grassland and savanna; largely fossorial in areas with moist microclimates.
white-lipped frog Leptodactylus fragilis Amphibians Not Listed T G5 S3 False Terrestrial and aquatic: Lowlands, grasslands, cultivated fields, roadside ditches, and a wide variety of other habitats; often hides under rocks or in burrows under clumps of grass.
southern crawfish frog Lithobates areolatus areolatus Amphibians Not Listed Not Listed G4T4 S3 False Terrestrial and aquatic: The terrestial habitat is primarily grassland and can vary from pasture to intact prairie; it can also include small prairies in the middle of large forested areas. Aquatic habitat is any body of water but preferred habitat is ephemeral wetlands.
Gulf Coast waterdog Necturus beyeri Amphibians Not Listed Not Listed GNR S3 False This species is associated with permanent flowing water within forested habitats, from small streams to large rivers. The are frequently associated with slow moving, sandy bottomed spring fed streams with lots of aquatic habitat such as log jams and leaf litter beds.
black-spotted newt Notophthalmus meridionalis Amphibians Not Listed T G3 S3 False Terrestrial and aquatic: Terrestrial habitats used by adults are typically poorly drained clay soils that allow for the formation of ephemeral wetlands. A wide variety of vegetation associations are known to be used, such as thorn scrub and pasture. Aquatic habitats used for reprodution are a variety of ephemeral and permanent water bodies.
Strecker's chorus frog Pseudacris streckeri Amphibians Not Listed Not Listed G5 S3 False Terrestrial and aquatic: Wooded floodplains and flats, prairies, cultivated fields and marshes. Likes sandy substrates.
Mexican burrowing toad Rhinophrynus dorsalis Amphibians Not Listed T G5 S3 False Terrestrial and aquatic: Low, rolling hills of sand, gravel or thin soil drained by ravines and gullies. Prefers moderate to dense vegetation cover of cactus and thornscrub. Roadside ditches, temporary ponds, arroyos, or wherever loose friable soils are present in which to burrow.
South Texas siren (Large Form) Siren sp. 1 Amphibians Not Listed T GNRQ S1 False Aquatic: Mainly found in bodies of quiet water, permanent or temporary, with or without submergent vegetation. Wet or sometimes wet areas, such as arroyos, canals, ditches, or even shallow depressions; aestivates in the ground during dry periods, but does require some moisture to remain.
Mexican treefrog Smilisca baudinii Amphibians Not Listed T G5 S3 False Terrestrial and aquatic: Terrestrial habitas used include forested and brush around water bodies. Aquatic habitast used can any any body of water but preferred breeding sites are small, ephemeral wetlands.
Cassin's Sparrow Aimophila cassinii Birds Not Listed Not Listed G5 S4B False Breeding: tallgrass prairie within a shrub matrix: high shrub canopy cover and density; in studies, rarely occupy plots with greater than 35% bare ground and usually avoided areas with less than 6% shrub canopy cover, preferred sites with more, taller grass and less bare ground, and occurred more often near mesquite trees
Rufous-crowned Sparrow Aimophila ruficeps Birds Not Listed Not Listed G5 S4B False Year-round: rocky slopes or mesas, native bunchgrass and oak shrubland/savanna; oak woodlands; treeless dry uplands with grassy vegetation and bushes, often near rocky outcrops and/or boulders