Endangered

Field Guide Home

More than 735 kinds of plants and 410 different animals in Missouri are of concern to conservationists because they are uncommon or because their numbers are low or declining. Learn about them here.

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Resources

Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist

The Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist lists all of our rarest species and natural communities, and is updated annually.

Aquatic Invertebrates

Photo of a coldwater crayfish.

Coldwater Crayfish

Faxonius eupunctus (formerly Orconectes eupunctus)

Endangered

Photograph of Ebonyshell freshwater mussel shell exterior view

Ebonyshell

Fusconaia ebena

Endangered

elephant's ear

Elephantear

Elliptio crassidens

Endangered

pink mucket

Pink Mucket

Lampsilis abrupta

Endangered

scaleshell

Scaleshell

Leptodea leptodon

Endangered

Photograph of Sheepnose freshwater mussel shell exterior view

Sheepnose (Bullhead)

Plethobasus cyphyus

Endangered

Snuffbox

Snuffbox

Epioblasma triquetra

Endangered

Birds

Image of bachman's sparrow

Bachman's Sparrow

Peucaea aestivalis (formerly Aimophila aestivalis)

Endangered

Photo of a male greater prairie-chicken in courtship display

Greater Prairie-Chicken

Tympanuchus cupido

Endangered

Image of a least tern

Least Tern

Sternula antillarum

Endangered

Photo of a northern harrier in flight, viewed from side

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius (sometimes called C. cyaneus)

Endangered

Closeup photo of head of peregrine falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Endangered

Fishes

Central mudminnow side view photo with black background

Central Mudminnow

Umbra limi

Endangered

Crystal darter side view photo with black background

Crystal Darter

Crystallaria asprella

Endangered

Cypress minnow side view photo with black background

Cypress Minnow

Hybognathus hayi

Endangered

Flathead chub side view photo with black background

Flathead Chub

Platygobio gracilis

Endangered

Goldstripe darter side view photo with black background

Goldstripe Darter

Etheostoma parvipinne

Endangered

Grotto sculpin side view photo with black background

Grotto Sculpin

Cottus specus

Endangered

Harlequin darter side view photo with black background

Harlequin Darter

Etheostoma histrio

Endangered

Lake sturgeon side view photo with black background

Lake Sturgeon

Acipenser fulvescens

Endangered

Longnose darter side view photo with black background

Longnose Darter

Percina nasuta

Endangered

Mountain madtom side view photo with black background

Mountain Madtom

Noturus eleutherus

Endangered

Neosho madtom side view photo with black background

Neosho Madtom

Noturus placidus

Endangered

Niangua darter female, side view photo with black background

Niangua Darter

Etheostoma nianguae

Endangered

Ozark cavefish side view photo with black background

Ozark Cavefish

Amblyopsis rosae

Endangered

Pallid sturgeon side view photo with black background

Pallid Sturgeon

Scaphirhynchus albus

Endangered

Redfin darter side view photo with black background

Redfin Darter

Etheostoma whipplei

Endangered

Sabine shiner side view photo with black background

Sabine Shiner

Notropis sabinae

Endangered

Spring cavefish side view photo with black background

Spring Cavefish

Forbesichthys agassizi

Endangered

Swamp darter side view photo with black background

Swamp Darter

Etheostoma fusiforme

Endangered

Taillight shiner male in spawning colors, side view photo with black background

Taillight Shiner

Notropis maculatus

Endangered

Topeka shiner female, side view photo with black background

Topeka Shiner

Notropis topeka

Endangered

Land Invertebrates

Photo of an American burying beetle

American Burying Beetle

Nicrophorus americanus

Endangered

Photo of a Hine's emerald dragonfly

Hine's Emerald

Somatochlora hineana

Endangered

Mammals

Image of a spotted skunk

Eastern Spotted Skunk

Spilogale putorius

Endangered

Photo of four gray myotises clinging to a cave ceiling.

Gray Myotis (Gray Bat)

Myotis grisescens

Endangered

Collared, grayish-tan wolf in open field

Gray Wolf

Canis lupus

Endangered

Photo of an Indiana myotis hanging from a cave ceiling.

Indiana Myotis (Indiana Bat)

Myotis sodalis

Endangered

Reptiles and Amphibians

Image of a blanding's turtle

Blanding’s Turtle

Emydoidea blandingii

Endangered

hellbender, a large brown salamander resting in gravelly streambed

Hellbender

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

Endangered

Image of a Mississippi green watersnake

Mississippi Green Watersnake

Nerodia cyclopion

Endangered

Image of a massasauga

Prairie Massasauga

Sistrurus tergeminus tergeminus

Venomous

Endangered

No photo available

Western Chicken Turtle

Deirochelys reticularia miaria

Endangered

Photo of a yellow mud turtle.

Yellow Mud Turtle

Kinosternon flavescens flavescens

Endangered

Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines

Illustration of pondberry leaves, flowers, fruits.

Pondberry

Lindera melissifolia

Endangered

Illustration of red-berried elderberry leaves, flowers, fruits

Red-Berried Elderberry

Sambucus pubens

Poisonous

Endangered

Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants

Photo of several decurrent false asters in bloom

Decurrent False Aster

Boltonia decurrens

Endangered

Photo of a geocarpon plant showing stems and foliage

Geocarpon (Earth Fruit; Tiny Tim)

Geocarpon minimum

Endangered

Photo of Mead's milkweed flower cluster and upper stem leaves

Mead’s Milkweed

Asclepias meadii

Endangered

Photo of Missouri bladderpod flowers

Missouri Bladderpod

Physaria filiformis (formerly Lesquerella filiformis)

Endangered

Image of running buffalo clover

Running Buffalo Clover

Trifolium stoloniferum

Endangered

Photo of a western prairie fringed orchid plant with flowers

Western Prairie Fringed Orchid

Platanthera praeclara

Endangered