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Wildlife in Danger of Extinction: Northwest Florida - Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy
Wildlife in Danger of Extinction: Northwest Florida 1
Joe Schaefer and Geof Gowan2
This publication is a brief overview of the habitats and counties where listed endangered, threatened, and special concern species have been found in northwest Florida, although these species also may occur in currently undocumented areas. Figure 1 shows the Northwest Florida counties and the number of endangered species within each. See the following tables:
| Figure 1 . |
- Table 1.
Mammals;
- Table 2.
Birds;
- Table 3.
Reptiles;
- Table 4.
Amphibians;
- Table 5.
Fishes.
Background
Many wildlife species in northwest Florida are headed toward extinction. By 1990, 48 species in this region had been officially listed as endangered, threatened or species of special concern by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Title 39- 27.003, 27.004, and 27.005, of the Florida Administrative Code) and/or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS, Part 17, Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations).
Endangered species are those in immediate danger of extinction unless they or their habitats are fully protected and managed. Threatened species are very likely to become endangered in the near future unless
they or their habitats are fully protected and managed. Species of special concern may become threatened unless protective management strategies are employed.
Since the early 1970s, these legal classifications have been used to help protect the species and their habitats in greatest jeopardy. It is unlawful to pursue, molest, harm, harass, capture or possess these species or parts thereof or their nests or eggs except as authorized by Commission or USFWS regulations or permits (Title 39-27.002, F.A.C. and Part 17, Title 50, C.F.R.). Designated critical wildlife areas that are crucial to the survival of listed species also are protected from human or vehicular disturbance (Title 39-19.05, F.A.C. and Part 17, Title 50, C.F.R.).
By far the most common cause of declines in wildlife numbers is habitat loss or alteration due to various human activities. Nearly half (44%) of all Florida vertebrates are known or suspected to be declining in number or distribution, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) study. Many species that have not gone through the formal listing process were determined by FWC to be in just as much jeopardy of extinction as those species already listed.
Extinction is a process that occurs over a long period. When an essential h'abitat component is diminished to a level insufficient for a species to survive there, tha-t species it becomes extinct in that area. Species first become extinct on individual sites, then extinction spreads to township, county, state, national, and global levels.
Tables
Table 1.
Table 1. Mammals |
Common name (Scientific Name) | Status | Habitat | Counties |
Bat, Gray (Myotis grisescens) | E (1,2)
| Caves | Jackson |
Bat, Indiana (Myotis sodalis) | E (1,2) | Caves | Jackson |
Bear, Florida Black (Ursus americanus floridanus) | T (1) | Hardwood swamps, dense thickets, various communities | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Chipmunk, Eastern (Tamias striatus) | SSC (1) | Mixed hardwoods | Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton |
Manatee, West Indian (Trichechus manatus latirostris) | E (1, 2) | Marine and fresh water | Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton |
Mouse, Choctawhatchee, Beach (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys) | T (1)E (2) | Coastal strand | Bay, Walton |
Mouse, Florida (Podomys floridanus) | SSC (1) | Scrub, sandhill communities | Franklin |
Mouse, Perdido Key beach (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis) | E (1, 2) | Coastal strand | Escambia |
Mouse, St. Andrews beach (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis) | E (1) | Coastal strand | Gulf |
Status code key: E = Endangered Species; T = Threatened Species; 1 = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2 = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; SSC = Species of Special Concern; C1 = A candidate for federal listing, with enough information on biological vulnerability and threat to support proposals for listing; C2 = A candidate for listing, with some evidence of vulnerability, but for which insufficient data exist to support listing; C3 = Still formally under review by the USFWS for federal listing, but no longer considered for listing because recent information indicates species is more widespread or abundant than previously believed.
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Table 2.
Table 2. Birds (*Does not breed in Florida) |
Common name (Scientific name) | Status | Habitat | Counties |
Eagle, Bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | T (1)E (2) | Pine flatwoods, sandhills, hardwood swamps, open water/upland interfaces | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Egret, Reddish (Egretta rufescens) | SSC (1) | Coastal marshes, mud flats | Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Wakulla |
Egret, Snowy (Egretta thula) | SSC (1) | Shallow and open water, wet prairies, sand, mud flats | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Falcon, Peregrine* (Falco peregrinus) | E (1)T (2) | Coastal strand, marshes, fields
| Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Wakulla |
Heron, Little Blue (Egretta caerulea) | SSC (1) | Marshes, sand, wet prairies, shallow and open water, mud flats | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Heron, Tricolored (Egretta tricolor) | SSC (1) | Salt and freshwater marshes | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Ibis, White (Eudocimus albus) | SSC (1) | Ocean beaches, bays, estuaries, freshwater marshes, lakes, ponds, rockpits, mines, impoundments, rivers, canals, and swamps | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Kestrel, Southeastern American (Falco sparverius paulus) | T (1) | Dry prairies, old fields, pine flatwoods, sandhills | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) | SSC (1) | Swamps, marshes | Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty |
Oystercatcher, American (Haematopus palliatus) | SSC (1) | Mud flats | Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton |
Pelican, Brown (Pelecanus occidentalis) | SSC (1) | Marine Water | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Plover, Piping* (Charadrius melodus) | T (1, 2) | Sand, mud flats | Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton |
Plover, Southeastern Snowy (Charadrius alexandrinus tenuirostris) | T (1) | Sand, mud flats | Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton |
Sparrow, Wakulla Seaside (Ammodramus maritimus juncicolus) | SSC (1) | Coastal marshes | Jefferson, Wakulla |
Skimmer, Black (Rynchops niger) | SSC (1) | Ocean beaches, bays, estuaries, lakes, ponds, rockpits, mines, impoundments, rivers, canals, and towns | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Stork, Wood (Mycteria americana) | E (1, 2) | Various swamp and marsh communities | Gadsden, Liberty, Wakulla |
Tern, Least (Sterna antillarum) | T (1) | Marine water, sand, roof tops | Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton |
Wren, Marian's marsh (Cistothorus palustris marianae) | SSC (1) | Coastal marshes | Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Wakulla |
Status code key: E = Endangered Species; T = Threatened Species; 1 = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2 = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; SSC = Species of Special Concern; C1 = A candidate for federal listing, with enough information on biological vulnerability and threat to support proposals for listing; C2 = A candidate for listing, with some evidence of vulnerability, but for which insufficient data exist to support listing; C3 = Still formally under review by the USFWS for federal listing, but no longer considered for listing because recent information indicates species is more widespread or abundant than previously believed. |
Table 3.
Table 3. Reptiles |
Common Name (Scientific Name) | Status | Habitat | Counties |
Alligator, American (Alligator mississippiensis) | SSC (1)T (2) | Swamps, lakes, rivers, marshes | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Cooter, Suwannee (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis) | SSC (1) | Ponds and lakes, streams and rivers, nests in sandy uplands | Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla |
Snake, Eastern Indigo (Drymarchon corais couperi) | T (1, 2) | Various upland and wetland communities | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Snake, Florida Pine (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus) | SSC (1) | Scrub, sandhills, flatwoods | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Tortoise, Gopher (Gopher polyphemus) | SSC (1) | Scrub, sandhills, coastal strand, flatwoods | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Turtle, Alligator Snapping (Macroclemys temmincki) | SSC (1) | Freshwater marshes, lakes, rivers | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Turtle, Atlantic Green (Chelonia mydas mydas) | E (1, 2) | Marine water | Okaloosa |
Turtle, Atlantic Ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) | E (1, 2) | Marine water |
Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton |
Turtle, Atlantic Loggerhead (Caretta caretta caretta) | T (1, 2) | Marine water, coastal strand | Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton |
Turtle, Barbour's Map (Graptemys barbouri) | SSC (1) | Hardwood swamps, streams, rivers | Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Liberty |
Status code key: E = Endangered Species; T = Threatened Species; 1 = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2 = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; SSC = Species of Special Concern; C1 = A candidate for federal listing, with enough information on biological vulnerability and threat to support proposals for listing; C2 = A candidate for listing, with some evidence of vulnerability, but for which insufficient data exist to support listing; C3 = Still formally under review by the USFWS for federal listing, but no longer considered for listing because recent information indicates species is more widespread or abundant than previously believed. |
Table 4.
Table 4. Amphibians |
Common name (Scientific name) | Status | Habitat | Counties |
Frog, Bog (Rana okaloosae) | SSC (1) | Wet prairies and bogs, streams, rivers | Okaloosa, Santa Rosa |
Frog, Dusky Gopher (Rana capito sevosa) | SSC (1) | Sandhills, pine flatwoods, ephemeral ponds | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Frog, Florida Gopher (Rana capito aesopus) | SSC (1) | Sandhills, pine flatwoods, ephemeral ponds | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington |
Salamander, Georgia Blind (Haideotriton wallacei) | SSC (1) | Caves | Jackson |
Treefrog, Pine Barrens (Hyla andersonii) | SSC (1) | hardwood swamps, wet prairies and bogs | Franklin, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton |
Status code key: E = Endangered Species; T = Threatened Species; 1 = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2 = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; SSC = Species of Special Concern; C1 = A candidate for federal listing, with enough information on biological vulnerability and threat to support proposals for listing; C2 = A candidate for listing, with some evidence of vulnerability, but for which insufficient data exist to support listing; C3 = Still formally under review by the USFWS for federal listing, but no longer considered for listing because recent information indicates species is more widespread or abundant than previously believed. |
Table 5.
Table 5. Fishes |
Common name (Scientific name) | Status | Habitat | Counties |
Bass, Shoal (Micropterus sp.) | SSC (1) | Streams, rivers | Franklin, Gadsden, Jackson, Liberty |
Bass, Suwannee (Micropterus notius) | SSC (1) | Streams, rivers | Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla |
Darter, Crystal (Ammocrypta asprella) | T (1) | Streams, rivers | Escambia, Santa Rosa |
Darter, Harlequin (Etheostoma histrio) | SSC (1) | Streams, rivers | Calhoun, Santa Rosa |
Darter, Okaloosa (Etheostoma okaloosae) | E (1, 2) | Streams, rivers | Okaloosa, Walton |
Shiner, Blackmouth (Notropis melanostomus) | E (1) | Shallow, backwater pools with no flow
| Santa Rosa, Walton |
Shiner, Bluestripe (Notropis callitaenia) | SSC (1) | Streams, rivers | Calhoun, Gadsden, Jackson, Liberty |
Shiner, Bluenose (Pteronotropis welaka) | SSC (1) | Deep pools and holes of streams | Gulf, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Washington |
Sturgeon, Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrhynchus) | SSC (1) | Marine water, streams, rivers | Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Liberty, Walton, Washington |
Topminnow, Saltmarsh (Fundulus jenkinsi) | SSC (1) | Marine water, coastal marshes
| Escambia, Santa Rosa |
Status code key: E = Endangered Species; T = Threatened Species; 1 = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2 = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; SSC = Species of Special Concern; C1 = A candidate for federal listing, with enough information on biological vulnerability and threat to support proposals for listing; C2 = A candidate for listing, with some evidence of vulnerability, but for which insufficient data exist to support listing; C3 = Still formally under review by the USFWS for federal listing, but no longer considered for listing because recent information indicates species is more widespread or abundant than previously believed. |
Footnotes
1. This document is SS-WEC-19, one of a series of the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Publication date: April 1991 as "Northwest Florida Wildlife in Danger of Extinction". Revised: February 1997; 1998. Minor Revisions: July, 2001. Please visit the Edis Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. Joe Schaefer , Ph.D., former extension wildlife specialist; Geof Gowan, former wildlife extension assistant, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611-0430. |
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