source by: Conde Nast Traveller
Endangered animals are a type of organism that is threatened by extinction. There are two main reasons species can become endangered: habitat loss and loss of genetic variation. Loss of habitat can occur naturally, and it can also result from human activities. A typical example is the extinction of dinosaurs.
Currently, in the United States, many species are endangered, and to help you understand the current state better, we have compiled a list of 26 of the many endangered species that are only found in the United States.
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
source by: Google
Scientific name: Reithrodontomys raviventris
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: California
The Saltmarsh harvest mouse is the first endangered species on our list. It was found around the Bay Area relatively recently, but it has become threatened due to habitat loss. No thanks to human development, mouse populations are isolated from one another and cannot breed properly.
Utah Prairie Dog
source by: The Property and Environment Research Center
Scientific name: Cynomys provides
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: Utah
The Utah Prairie Dog was declared endangered in 1973. However, over the last 30 years, the population has been stable to increase, and the Utah Prairie Dog is now federally recognized as threatened rather than endangered. Threats like urban expansion, climate change, and resource exploration remain, but the prairie dog has made a strong recovery.
Red Wolf
source by: Wildwnc.org
Scientific name: Canis rufus
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: North Carolina
Red Wolves were once found along much of the Southeast, but habitat destruction, hunting, and more have dwindled their range to the point that they are only found in North Carolina. They’re one of the most endangered canids on Earth. Red wolves are also highly endangered because of interactions with coyotes, which can hurt the species’ viability long term.
Kauai Cave Wolf Spider
source by: Kidadl
Scientific name: Adelocosa stops
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: Hawaii
The Kauai cave wolf is a highly unusual spider that can only be found in caves in the Koloa district of Kauai, Hawaii. Wolf spiders usually utilize their vision to catch their prey rather than webs, but the Kauai cave wolf is unique because it is eyeless, relying only on swift motion to hunt. Because they have such specific habitat needs, the cave wolf is highly vulnerable to habitat destruction from construction, human visitation, and other sources.
Laysan Duck
source by: Birdsoftheworld.org
Scientific name: Anas laysanensis
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: Hawaii
Ducks don’t immediately come to mind when we consider an endangered species, but this particular one is. In fact, the Laysan duck, once found all over the Hawaiian islands, is now the rarest native waterfowl in the United States, and populations exist only on Laysan Island and on a wildlife refuge at Midway Atoll.
Yosemite Toad
source by: S3.amazonaws
Scientific name: Anaxyrus canorus
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: California
The Yosemite Toad, endemic to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California, is covered in warts; the females also have splotches all over their bodies. They’re only found in a 150-mile range and are particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction.
Gunnison Sage-grouse
source by: Allaboutbirds.org
Scientific name: Centrocercus minimus
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: Colorado, Utah
The Gunnison sage-grouse is an unusual species of bird found only in the Southwest. They face threats from various sources, but their habitat has been largely ravaged by oil and gas drilling. Environmental groups are fighting hard to protect the animal’s remaining habitat from further drilling.
Devils Hole Pupfish
source by: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Scientific name: Cyprinodon diabolis
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: Nevada
This tiny, bright blue fish (only one inch in length) is only found naturally in the Devils Hole cavern in Nevada, the waters of which are 93 degrees. This small fish got its name because of the way they swim and move, which observers often likened to the frolic and play.
Devils hole pupfish is one of the most endangered animals on our list.
Fan Shell
source by: Public Domain Pictures
Scientific name: Cyprogenia stegaria
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia
The Fanshell mussel has been severely impacted by human activity like dredging, mining, and water pollution. Water conservation activities and erosion prevention are essential to keeping the mussel from disappearing.
Giant Kangaroo Rat
source by: WIRED
Scientific name: Dipodomys ingens
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: California
Giant kangaroo rats are the largest species in their family. They got their name because they stand up on their hind feet and hop to move, like a kangaroo. They create complex burrow systems that sometimes have more than five separate entrances.
Delta Green Ground Beetle
source by: Baynature.org
Scientific name: Elaphrus Viridis
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: California
This beetle has a range of only about 7,000 acres in Solano County, Calif. Natural gas reserves exist in the beetle’s habitat, so natural gas exploration could further threaten it. Because it is unusually colorful, it could also be a target for illegal collectors.
Jollyville Plateau Salamander
source by: Wikipedia
Scientific name: Eurycea Tonkawa
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: Texas
This unique salamander spends its entire life underwater. It was only discovered in 2000, but already its population has declined dramatically due to the sensitive nature of these amphibians. The Jollyville Plateau salamander is highly threatened by development, which groups like The Center for Biological Diversity fight in areas known to be inhabited by this species.
California Condor
source by: Wbur.org
Scientific name: Gymnogyps californianus
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: California, Arizona, Utah
Condors are the largest flying birds in North America. Their wingspan is nearly 10 feet from tip to tip. After they almost went extinct, the remaining ten wild condors were captured in 1987; reintroduction began in 1992.
American Burying Beetle
source by: Researchfeatures
Scientific name: Nicrophorus americanus
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: Arkansas, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas
Burying beetles survive off of the carcasses of dead animals, which they bury in the ground. Biologists aren’t sure what has led to their rapid decline, but it may have been caused by declines in other species that they rely on to eat.
Squirrel Chimney Cave Shrimp
source by: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Scientific name: Palaemonetes cummings
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: Florida
This tiny, translucent shrimp has only been found in a single sinkhole in Florida. Because they are so rare, very little is known about them at this point.
Crested Honeycreeper (Akohekohe)
source by: Lyman Museum
Scientific name: Palmeria dole
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: Hawaii
The Crested Honeycreeper, known in traditional Hawaiian as ‘Ākohekohe, was once found on both Maui and Molokai but is now only found on Maui. It is known for its acrobatic movements and how it runs across treetops.
Red Hills Salamander
source by: NRDC
Scientific name: Phaeognathus hubristic
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: Alabama
The Red Hills salamander is unusually large; it can be up to 11 inches long! Unfortunately, its range is very limited. In fact, it is the only terrestrial vertebrate entirely confined to the state.
Louisiana Pine Snake
source by: Wikiwand
Scientific name: Pituophis ruthveni
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: Louisiana, Texas
The Louisiana pine snake, one of the rarest snakes in North America, is known for its large eggs. It rarely appears in the wild anymore, but when it does, it lives out its days in the warren of tunnels created by pocket gophers, which it eats.
Woundfin
source by: Shreveporttimes
Scientific name: Plagopterus argentissimus
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: Arizona, Utah, Nevada
Woundfins are tiny minnows that once occupied much of the Colorado River Basin. But because of habitat destruction, invasive species, and other issues, its populations have dwindled significantly. Increased water temperatures are one of the biggest threats to the fish.
Alabama Red-bellied Turtle
source by: Youtube
Scientific name: Pseudemys alabamensis
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: Alabama
Named for its bright underbelly, which can be read or yellow, this turtle makes its home in freshwater rivers, ponds, and bayous. Unfortunately, when the turtles come onto land to lay eggs, they target drivers who don’t see them. The Alabama Department of Transportation has built fences to keep them off highways and has signed on roads during hatching season to keep them safer.
Bruneau Hot Springsnail
source by: Earth
Scientific name: Pyrgulopsis bruneauensis
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: Idaho
This unusual snail is found only in hot springs in Idaho. It is vulnerable because of this, mainly because of groundwater withdrawal from agriculture. It has also fallen prey to some newly introduced species.
Mountain Yellow-legged Frog
source by: Usgs.gov
Scientific name: Rana muscosa
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: California
These frogs are usually found within just a few feet of a water source. They mainly appear at high elevations, ranging from 4,500 to 12,000 feet. Unfortunately, fish farming has been a significant threat to the frogs, as fish stock competes with them for food.
Flattened Musk Turtle
source by: Encyclopediaofalabama.org
Scientific name: Sternotherus depressus
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: Alabama
The flattened musk turtle is one of the most endangered animals. It can take this tiny turtle up to 60 years to reach its full length—which is only 12 centimeters. Habitat fragmentation has had a major impact on the turtle, although Alabama now protects it, and recovery efforts are underway to restore its habitat.
Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard
source by: Wikimedia Commons
Scientific name: Uma inornata
Red List status: Endangered
Geographic range: California
This lizard has adapted to life in the harsh desert. It spends most of its daylight hours “swimming” in the sand: burrowing underneath during the worst of the heat. Its biggest threat is human development in its habitat.
Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel
source by: Bonners Ferry Herald
Scientific name: Urocitellus brunneus
Red List status: Critically endangered bullet fragments
Geographic range: Idaho
This rare squirrel relies on large amounts of grass and seeds to fatten up for its long winter hibernation. Fire suppression efforts have greatly reduced its food supply, leading to population decline.
White River Spinedace
source by: S3-us-west-2.amazonaws
Scientific name: Lepidomeda albivallis
Red List status: Critically endangered
Geographic range: Nevada.
Finally on our shortlist of endangered species is the White River Spinedace. It is among the most endangered animals due to the effects of habitat alterations and the introduction of exotic, predatory and competing fishes.
source by: Innovationcloud
That’s a wrap on our shortlist of endangered species in the US. This list is not exhaustive as there bunch of other animals, such as the loggerhead sea turtle, Columbia basin pygmy rabbit, giant sea bass, staghorn coral, monarch butterfly, Mitchell’s satyr butterfly, San Joaquin kit fox, Smalltooth sawfish, amongst many others on the endangered species list.
However, we hope you have learned a few things, and more importantly, the importance of the conservation of our wildlife and the entire species in the animal kingdom. While the United States Fish and Wildlife service agency is working to protect endangered species, it is imperative that we also do our part in ensuring the safety of these species.
We don’t want to lose these beautiful creatures to extinction anytime soon. Hence, the endangered species act is one that we must ensure to live by and keep to.
While you are here, do well to check out our animatronic products of different animals. Similarly, we have puppets of all your favorite animals.
