State and Federal Listed Species
Plant and animal species receive protection under the Endangered Species Act, after being placed
on the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. State and federal programs follow a
legal process to determine whether to list a species, based on the degree of threat it faces. An
“endangered” species is one that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its
range. A “threatened” species is one that is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. The
majority of the listed species in the Triangle are state listed species of concern. In 2010, Wake County
alone had 92 state and federally listed species, including 17 state listed naturally communities, several of
which are considered to be in peril .
Analyzing the number of listed species over time shows an increase in the number of listed
species in each of the six counties from 1996, 2000, 2005 and 2010. This increase may not be specifically
tied to a greater number of species being at risk, but may be due to an increase in survey efforts in each of
the counties. Monitoring the number of listed species over time can give conservation organizatins an idea
of where their efforts need to be focused. An increase in the number of threatened mollusks, or
amphibians could mean a decrease in water quality in the region. An increase in the number of bird
species could focus efforts to protect a particular habitat type.
WILL ADD MORE TO THIS SECTION.
State listings
E: Endangered
T: Threatened
SC: Special concern
C: Candidate
SR: Significantly rare
EX: Extirpated
P: Proposed
Federal listings – North Carolina as a whole has 63 federally listed species with 36 animals and 27 plants listed.
LE: Listed endangered
LT: Listed threatened
PE: Proposed endangered
PT: Proposed threatened
C: Candidate
SC: Species of Concern
PDL: Proposed for delisting
SAE or SAT: Listed endangered or threatened because of similarity of appearance
PSAE or PSAT: Proposed endangered or threatened because of similarity of appearance
XE: Essential experimental population
XN: Nonessential experimental population
State and Global ranks range from S1 and G1– Critically imperiled, to S5 and G5 – demonstrably secure.
A complete list of state and global rankings can be found in the appendix.
Number of listed species over time
The most current data available from the Natural Heritage Program is incorporated in this
analysis. The data shows a steady increase in the number of listed species for each county from 1996 to
2010. The majority of the new listings are plants and mollusks that are state species of concern. Wake
County’s number of total listings went from a total of 78 listed species of plants and animals in 1996 to
92 in 2010.
Habitat loss and habit degradation are the greatest threats to most of the listed species in the
region. Identifying the habitat types and species that are most at-risk can help focus conservation efforts
and lead to better coordination between regional governments to protect at-risk species and habitats.
WILL ADD MORE TO THIS SECTION ABOUT WHICH CATEGORIES INCREASED THE
MOST FROM EACH COUNTY.
Mollusks
The largest suite of rare animals in the Triangle is freshwater mussels. There are 17 freshwater
mussels listed in the Triangle, including the Dwarf Wedgemussel(Alasmidonta heterodon), and the
Yellow Lance (Elliptio lanceolata), bot h of which are federally endangered species. Freshwater mussels
are the most imperiled group of species in North America. The threats to freshwater mussels include
alteration of habitat, contamination of freshwater through pollution and sedimentation, the effects of dams
and roads on water quality, changes in adjacent land use, and the effects of introduced species.
Birds
There are eight species of birds in The Triangle that are state or federally listed. The redcockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) is the only federally endangered species in the Triangle. The
red-cockaded woodpecker listed in all six counties, but is only currently found in Johnston County. The
loss of older longleaf pine habitat that the woodpecker prefers is the primary threat.For other birds, like
the Bachman’s sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis), habitat loss is also the primary threat. The last colony of
Bachman’s sparrows lost their preferred habitat to an expansion at the Raleigh-Durham International
Airport.
Fish
There are six state and federally listed fish species in the Triangle. The Cape Fear Shiner
(Notropis mekistocholas) which is found in Chatham and lee counties is the only federally endangered
fish in the region. In Wake County, there are no recent county records for the Roanoke Bass (Ambloplites
cavifrons) or the Carolina Madtom (Noturus furiosus), leading to concern that those species might have
disappeared from Wake County.
Mammals
The eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), the star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata), and the
Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius) are the only mammals listed in the region. The Southeastern
Myotis, a small bat, is the only federally listed species among mammals in the Triangle. The Southeastern
Myotis, a federal species of concern, is historic to Wake County, but habitat loss is believed to have led to
the abandonment of the last known colony in the county. The star-nosed mole, a state species of concern,
is listed only in Wake County.
Vascular Plants
Vascular plants are have the greatest number of at-risk species in the Triangle with 101 species
listed. There are four federally endangered vascular plants: Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum), Michaux’s
Sumac (Rhus michauxii), Smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata) and the Bog Spicebush (Lindera
subcoriacea). Also, there are 16 species of vascular plants that are designated federal species of concern.
Of the 31 plants that were tracked by the Natural Heritage Program at the time of their 2003 Wake
County Inventory, eight of the 31 species were believed to be extirpated from the county.
Reptiles
There are only two reptiles listed in the Triangle. The Timber Rattlesnake (Croatus horridus) is a
state species of concern in Durham County, and the Southern Hognose Snake ( Heteron simus) is a
federal species of concern in Wake County. The protected lands surrounding Camp Butner in Durham
County benefit the timber rattlestnake. The hognose snake has suffered loss of habitat and is feared to be
extirpated in Wake County.
Amphibians
There are four amphibians that are at-risk in the Triangle. The Eastern Tiger Salamander
(Ambystoma tigrinum), the Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum), the Neuse River Waterdog
(Necturus lewisi) and the Pine Barrens Treefrog are all state listed species. Water quality degradation and
habitat loss are two of the greatest threats to amphibian species.
Source: Photo by Jeff Pippen
Sidebar - Eastern Fox Squirrel
Federal Status: -NC State status: SR
In The Triangle: Only currently found in Johnston and Wake counties.
The fox squirrel is found in the sandhills and coastal plain and in the mountains. Fox squirrels are locally
common in the sandhills and coastal plain.
The fox squirrel’s habit consists primarily of longleaf pine, turkey oak sandhills characterized by large,
well-spaced pines and an understory of scattered or clumped oaks .
Source: www.basic.ncsu.edu/ ncgap/sppreport/amafb07040.html
Sidebar- Neuse River Waterdog
Scientific name: Necturus lewisi
Taxa: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Proteidae
NatureServe Global
Rank: G3
NatureServe State Rank: S3
Federal Status: -NC State status: SC
The Neuse River waterdog is found only in North Carolina. It is found in the main streams and tributaries
of the Neuse and Tar Rivers. The waterdog lives in swift flowing streams with high oxygen levels and
high water quality.
Because of their sensitivity to low oxygen and polluted waters, they’re found in relatively clean, flowing
streams that don’t dry up during droughts.
Source: www.basic.ncsu.edu/ ncgap/sppreport/amafb07040.htm
http://naturalsciences.org
Federal Status
LE: Listed endangered
LT: Listed threatened
PE: Proposed endangered
PT: Proposed threatened
C: Candidate
SC: Species of Concern
PDL: Proposed for delisting
SAE or SAT: Listed endangered or threatened because of similarity of appearance
PSAE or PSAT: Proposed endangered or threatened because of similarity of appearance
XE: Essential experimental population
XN: Nonessential experimental population
State Status
E: Endangered
T: Threatened
SC: Special concern
C: Candidate
SR: Significantly rare
EX: Extirpated
P: Proposed
State Rank
S1: Critically imperiled in North Carolina because of extreme rarity or otherwise very vulnerable to extirpation in
the state.
S2: Imperiled in North Carolina because of rarity or otherwise vulnerable to extirpation in the state.
S3: Rare or uncommon in North Carolina.
S4: Apparently secure in North Carolina, with many occurrences.
S5: Demonstrably secure in North Carolina and essentially ineradicable under present conditions.
SA: Accidental or casual; one to several records for North Carolina, but the state is outside the normal range of the
species.
SH: Historic record: the element is either extirpated from the county or quad, or there have not been any recent
surveys to verify its continued existence.
SR: Reported from North Carolina, but without persuasive documentation for either accepting or rejecting the
report.
SX: Believed to be extirpated from North Carolina.
SU: Possibly in peril in North Carolina, but status uncertain; more information is needed.
S?: Unranked, or rank uncertain.
S_B: Rank of breeding population in the state. Used for migratory species only.
S_N: Rank of non-breeding population in the state. Used for migratory species only.
SZ: Population is not of significant conservation concern; applies to transitory, migratory species.
Global Rank
G1: Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity or otherwise very vulnerable to extinction throughout its
range.
G2: Imperiled globally because of rarity or otherwise vulnerable to extinction throughout its range.
G3: Either very rare and local throughout its range, or found locally in a restricted area.
G4: Apparently secure globally, although it may be quite rare in parts of its range (especially at the periphery).
G5: Demonstrably secure globally, although it may be quite rare in parts of its range (especially at the periphery).
GH: Of historical occurrence throughout its range.
GX: Believed to be extinct throughout its range.
GU: Possibly in peril, but status uncertain; more information is needed.
G?: Unranked, or rank uncertain.
G_Q: Of questionable taxonomic status.
G_T_ : Status of subspecies or variety; the G-rank refers to the species as a whole, the T-rank to the subspecies.
At-risk species in the Triangle over time
120
Number of listed species
100
80
Chatham
Durham
Johnston
60
Lee
Orange
40
Wake
20
0
1996
2000
2005
2010