Government protects 20 species under Endangered Species Act
Endangered species: American marten - Newfoundland population, wolverine, piping plover,
Eskimo curlew, Longs braya and barrens willow.
Threatened species: Fernalds braya, anatum peregrine falcon, and the three woodland caribou
herds in Labrador - Mealy Mountain, Red Wine and Lac Joseph. COSEWIC had recommended
the tundra peregrine falcon be listed as vulnerable; however, due to the difficulty to distinguish it
from the threatened anatum peregrine falcon, the possibility the two may inter-breed and that
their ranges may overlap, government decided to list both species as threatened to ensure their
equal protection.
Vulnerable species: Banded killifish, Barrow’s goldeneye, Fernald’s milk-vetch, boreal felt
lichen, harlequin duck, ivory gull, polar bear and short-eared owl.
Backgrounder
Species listed under the Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species:
American marten - Newfoundland population (Martes americana atrata)
The American marten is a member of the weasel family. It has a slender body with short limbs and a long
bushy tail. Its fur is soft and dense, yellowish brown, darker on the tail and legs and lighter on the belly. It
has a pale buff patch on the throat.
The American marten, also known as the pine marten, Newfoundland marten or marten cat, is endangered
only on the island of Newfoundland. Most of the population occurs in the area of Little Grand Lake with other
smaller populations located at Red Indian Lake, Glover Island, Main River and Terra Nova National Park.
Wolverine - eastern population (Gulo gulo)
The wolverine, a native mammal to Labrador, resembles a small bear with a bushy tail. It has long, dark
brown fur. Two yellowish stripes start at the head and meet at the rump. It can weigh between 15 and 25 kg.
It is the largest mustelid in the province.
The eastern population of the wolverine is thought to range throughout northern Quebec and most of
Labrador. Historically wolverine were trapped throughout most of Labrador, however numbers of animals
trapped declined early in the 20th century. There have been no confirmed records in Labrador since the
1950s, although there continues to be occasional unconfirmed sightings.
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus melodus)
The Piping Plover is a small, thrush-sized shorebird. It is the colour of dry sand with a distinctive black
breast band, a black band above the forehead and a partially black tail. It has a white rump and bright
orange legs. It has a short, stout bill which is orange and has a black tip. It has a distinctive peeping call.
In Newfoundland, the piping plover is only found on beaches of the southwest coast ranging from the
Stephenville Crossing area in the north to Burgeo on the south coast. There are approximately 44 adult
piping plovers nesting in Newfoundland.
Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis)
The Eskimo curlew is a mottled, brownish shorebird with long legs and a fairly long, thin, slightly downcurving bill. Its upper parts are brown while its breast and abdomen are buff. It has solid brown and
cinnamon coloured underwings. It resembles a whimbrel but is much smaller (pigeon-sized).
The Eskimo curlew nests in the Northwest Territories and winters in South America. During its fall migration,
it passes through Newfoundland and Labrador where it stays for a brief period on the coastal barrens. There
it fattens up on berries such as the crowberry prior to making its long migratory flight south. Total numbers
are unknown and sightings, even unconfirmed ones, have been extremely rare.
Long’s Braya (Braya longii)
The Long’s braya is a small perennial plant member of the mustard family. It has a deep taproot, a rosette of
fleshy, linear leaves and erect flowering stalks up to 10 cm high. The four-petaled flowers are white with a
tinge of violet. The fruit is an elongate, usually hairless, capsule.
The Long’s braya is endemic to the northwest coast of the Great Northern Peninsula. It is restricted to
several small populations in a narrow band of limestone barren found along the coast. This plant has never
been found anywhere else in the world. It is one of a unique set of species adapted to the harsh climate
conditions and natural processes that characterize the coastal limestone barrens of the Strait of Belle Isle.
Barrens Willow (Salix jejuna)
The barrens willow is also known as the barren willow, insignificant willow and Belle Isle dwarf willow. It is a
dwarf, prostate shrub. It has small, rounded, hairless leaves with a waxy upper surface.
Barrens willow is found on the northwest coast of the Great Northern Peninsula. It is restricted to a narrow
band of limestone barren stretching along the coast near the tip of the peninsula. This plant has never been
found anywhere else in the world. It is one of a unique set of species adapted to the harsh climate conditions
and natural processes that characterize the coastal limestone barrens of the Strait of Belle Isle.
Threatened species:
Fernald’s Braya (Braya fernaldii)
The Fernald’s braya is a small perennial plant member of the mustard family. It has a deep taproot, a rosette
of fleshy, linear to spatulate leaves and erect flowering stalks, up to seven cm high. The four-petaled flowers
are white to pink. The fruit is an elongate, usually hairy, capsule.
Fernald’s braya is endemic to the northwest coast of the Great Northern Peninsula. It is restricted to the
narrow band of limestone barren found along the coast. This plant has never been found anywhere else in
the world. It is one of a unique set of species adapted to the harsh climate conditions and natural processes
that characterize the coastal limestone barrens of the Strait of Belle Isle.
anatum Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum)
The adult peregrine falcon is a crow-sized falcon with females weighing about one kg. It has a black stripe
below the eye with bluish-grey upper parts and buff with brown bars on the sides and thighs, and spots on
the abdomen.
The peregrine falcon nests along the coast of Labrador from Table Bay to Cape Chidley and along a number
of the major rivers which offer suitable habitat. The anatum peregrine falcon which shares the area with the
tundra peregrine falcon is thought to occupy that part of the Labrador peninsula south of the tree line. The
peregrine is a bird of many superlatives. It flies the fastest, migrates great distances and lives in spectacular
landscapes. Because of this, and the fact that it was at one point on the brink of extinction, it has become a
symbol of wilderness, endangerment and now recovery.
tundra Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus tundrius)
The tundra peregrine falcon is very similar to the anatum peregrine falcon, but are smaller. It ranges
throughout the northern tundra. In Labrador, it is thought to nest as far south as the tree line, however, its
exact range remains to be determined. Tundra peregrines migrate to South America during the winter.
Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou)
The threatened status applies to three populations of the woodland caribou in this province: The Mealy
Mountain, Red Wine and the Lac Joseph Herds. The Mealy Mountain Herd can be found in the Mealy
Mountains and adjacent areas, immediately south of Lake Melville. The range for the Red Wine Herd is the
Red Wine Mountains and as far south as the Churchill River. The Lac Joseph Herd is found in the Lac
Joseph area of western Labrador.
The woodland caribou is one of the most primitive members of the deer family. It has a large, blond muzzle,
well-covered with fur, short wide ears and a small heavily furred tail. Its compact body is covered with thick
and long fur. It has large crescent-shaped, cloven hooves which are adapted to walking in snow and bogs.
Vulnerable species:
Banded Killifish (Fundulus diaphanus)
The banded killifish is a small fish with an elongated and slender body which is slightly flattened at the back
of the head. Its back is dark brown to olive green while its sides are silvery or yellowish and its underparts
are white bars. Average length is 75 mm.
This little fish, similar to a mummichog, is known from a limited number of sites in the province - on the west
and northeast coasts and the Burin Peninsula. It is isolated from mainland populations and is now being
looked at as a possible sub-species.
Barrows Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
The Barrows goldeneye is a medium-sized diving duck. Males weigh about 1,127 g. They have a contrasting
black and white plumage with a purplish black head and a white crescent-shaped patch at base of bill.
Females have a chocolate brown head, greyish brown back and whitish flanks and belly.
This duck represents an important proportion of the wintering waterfowl population in the St. Lawrence
estuary. While it breeds in Quebec, it is possible that some breeding may also occur on the island of
Newfoundland. Molting groups have been found as far north as Little Ramah Bay in Labrador. It winters in
the Gulf of St. Lawrence with small numbers along the Atlantic coast including the coast of the island of
Newfoundland.
Fernald’s Milk-vetch (Astragalus robbinsii var. fernaldii)
The Fernald’s milk-vetch is a perennial, herbaceous plant that grows in small clumps. It is a member of the
pea and bean family. The leaves are alternate and compose of nine to 17 hairy leaflets. Flowering stalks
borne along the stem bear 10-20 small flowers each. The petals are purple to lilac, rarely white. The hairy
pod with its short stalk is distinctive.
Fernald’s milk-vetch is known only from the Strait of Belle Isle region of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The bulk of
the known population occurs in the Blanc Sablon area of Quebec. Similar habitats occur in Southern
Labrador. A disjunct population of Fernald’s milk-vetch is known from the highlands of St. John on the
Northern Peninsula where it was recently rediscovered. It is associated with exposed, calcareous habitats,
which are relatively rare in Labrador and on the island of Newfoundland.
Harlequin Duck (Histrionucus histrionucus)
The harlequin duck is a small subarctic sea duck. Males have a slate blue plumage, chestnut sides and
streaks of white on the head and body. The crown has a black stripe with a chestnut stripe on either side.
The belly is slate grey. Females are a plain, brownish-grey with patches of white behind, below and in front
of the eye.
The eastern population breeds mostly in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. It winters along the
eastern seaboard of the U.S.A., the Atlantic provinces and Greenland. Cape St. Mary’s is the main wintering
site in this province. This little, colourful duck is known locally as "Lords and Ladies".
Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea)
The ivory gull is a small, blacklegged seabird and is the only gull with all white plumage. Immature birds
have a black face and chin and black spots speckled along the wings and tail. This gull breeds in high-Arctic
coastal areas. It winters primarily in Arctic seas though it may be seen along the Atlantic coast, including the
coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a large creamy white bear with a long body, long neck, narrow head and very small ears.
The foot pads are covered with fur. Claws and tongue are black and the eyes are brown. The males are
larger than the females.
In Canada, the polar bear occupies ice-covered areas from Labrador to the Alaskan border. It occasionally
moves south to the island of Newfoundland, usually on spring ice but moves north again. It is the largest
mammalian predator in the north. The polar bear inspires both awe and respect and in recent years have
become the early warning for the effects of global warming.
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
The short-eared owl is a medium-sized, buffy-white owl with short ear tufts. Its upper parts are broadly but
softly streaked. It has narrow brown streaks on its abdomen. It has yellow eyes and a black patch near the
wrist under the wing. In Newfoundland and Labrador it is found primarily in coastal areas and other open
habitats. It is one of our few native owl species.
Boreal Felt Lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum)
The boreal felt lichen is an epiphytic lichen which grows on trunks and branches of trees in moist, mature
forests. Its preferred host is balsam fir. The leafy thallus is gray on the upper surface and white underneath.
The edges of the thallus curl upward, giving the lichen a unique, white-fringed appearance when viewed
from a distance.
The boreal felt lichen grows in suboceanic forest regions of Newfoundland. The known population is
concentrated in two areas - the central Avalon and Bay d’Espoir. This species is the only known boreal
member of an otherwise strictly tropical group of lichens of very ancient origin. It once had a global AmphiAtlantic distribution with populations occurring in Scandinavia and in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland. It appears the species is now absent from Scandinavia and has experienced drastic declines
in the Maritimes. The health of the Newfoundland population is pivotal to the global survival of the species.
In addition, the boreal felt lichen can be an excellent indicator to monitor changes in air quality; it is one of
our lichen species with the highest degree of sensitivity to air pollution.