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Wildlife in Danger of Extinction: Central Florida 1 William H. Kern, Jr.2 This publication is a brief overview of the habits and counties where listed endangered, threatened and special concern species have been found in central Florida, although these species also may occur in currently undocumented areas. Background Many species of wildlife in central Florida are in danger of extinction. The causes of their decline are varied, but all of the resident species on this list have adapted to the unique environments of Florida. Loss of native habitats has had severe impacts on these species. By 1994, 67 species in this region had been officially listed as endangered, threatened or species of special concern by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) (Florida Administrative Code, Title 39-27.003, 27.004, and 27.005) and/or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS Title 50 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 17.11-12). See Table 1 , Table 2 , Table 3 , Table 4 , Table 5 , and Table 6 . Endangered species are those in immediate danger of extinction or extirpation unless they or their habitats are fully protected and actively managed. Threatened species are very likely to become endangered in the near future unless they or their habitats are fully protected and managed. A species may be classified as threatened if most or all its populations are decreasing or have decreased due to over exploitation, habitat loss or other deleterious factors. A species may appear common and be classified as threatened if it has undergone severe decline compared to previously documented population levels and trends indicate that the decline is continuing. Species of special concern may become threatened unless protective management strategies are employed. Species that are restricted to specific habitats that are being rapidly lost to development are often classified as a species of special concern. Species that are common in Florida, but threatened or endangered in adjacent states may be classified as a species of special concern. Rare species is a classification used by the Florida Committee on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals. It is used for those species whose range in Florida is limited or peripheral and those species that are widespread in the state but whose populations maintain low densities, see Figure 1 . Figure 1. Since the early 1970s, these legal classifications have been used to help protect species and their habitats that are 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. In central Florida, uplands have been converted to housing developments, citrus groves and other agricultural uses. Sandhills and scrub habitats in central Florida are only a tiny fraction of their original area. Wetlands have received much more protection than uplands, but are now fragmented isolated pockets without access to needed adjacent upland habitats. 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. ** For the most up to date listings, please consult the following web sites: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: http://floridaconservation.org/ Tables Table 1. Table 1. Mammals Common name Scientific name Status Habitat Counties FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FL Comm. on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals E=Endangered Species ssc=Species of Special Concern T=Threatened Species R=Rare C1=candidate for federal listing with enough substantial information on biological vulnerability and threats to justify listing C2=candidate for federal listing with some evidence of vulnerability, without enough information to justify listing Bat, Southeastern big-earedPlecotus rafinesquii macrotis   C2 R Mesic forests, roosts in abandoned buildings and hollow trees Levy, Marion, Volusia, Citrus, Sumter, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola Bat, Southeastern brownMyotis austroriparius   C2   Caves, storm tunnels, buildings Levy, Marion, Volusia, Citrus, Sumter, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Manatee, Sarasota Black bear, FloridaUrsus americanus floridanus T C1 T Hardwood swamps, dense thickets, various communities Highlands, Polk, Osceola, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, Marion, Seminole, Orange, Sumter, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco (may be found throughout region) Manatee, West IndianTrichechus manatus latrirostris E E E Marine and fresh water Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, De Soto, St. Lucie, Indian River, Brevard, Volusia, Lake, Seminole, Marion Mole, EnglewoodScalopus aquaticus bassi   C2   Various habitats Sarasota Mouse, FloridaPodemys floridanus ssc C2 T Scrub and sandhill communities Levy, Marion, Volusia, Citrus, Sumter, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Indian River, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, Highlands, St. Lucie Mouse, Southeastern beachPeromyscus polionotus niveiventris T T T Coastal dunes dominated by sea oats Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie Muskrat, round-tailedNeofiber alleni   C2 ssc Fresh water mashes and lake edges Marion, Volusia, Citrus, Sumter, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Indian River, Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Sarasota, De Soto Panther, FloridaFelis concolor coryi E E E Various habitats Highlands, Osceola, Volusia, Sarasota Shrew, HomosassaSorex longirostris eionis ssc     Moist forests Citrus, Hernando Shrew, Sherman's short-tailedBlarina carolinensis shermani ssc C2   Moist forests and dense herbaceous habitats Sarasota, De Soto, Highlands Squirrel, Sherman's foxSciurus niger shermani ssc C2 T Open woodlands, especially Sandhill communities Levy, Marion, Volusia, Citrus, Sumter, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Indian River, Hardee, Manatee, Highlands, Okeechobee, St. Lucie Vole, Florida saltmarshMicrotus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli E E E Salt marsh Levy Weasel, FloridaMustela frenata peninsulae   C2 R Various habitats Marion, Volusia, Citrus, Sumter, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Indian River, Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, Sarasota, De Soto Whale, finBalaenoptera physalus E E E Marine waters Coastal waters Whale, humpbackMegaptera novaeangliae E E E Marine waters Coastal waters Whale, rightBalaena glacialis E E E Marine waters Coastal waters Whale, seiBalaenoptera borealis E E E Marine waters Coastal waters Whale, spermPhyster catodon E E E Marine waters Coastal waters References: Florida Natural Areas Inventory 1994. Element occurrence records Tallahassee, FL Humphrey, S.R. 1992. Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida, Volume 1: Mammals. University Presses of Florida, Gainesville, FL. 121 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Animal candidate review for listing as endangered or threatened species Federal Register 59 (219): 58982-59028 Wood, D.A. 1994. Official lists of endangered & potentially endangered fauna and flora in Florida. Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, FL 22 pp. Table 2. Table 2. Birds Common name Scientific name Status Habitat Counties FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FL Comm. on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals E=Endangered Species ssc=Species of Special Concern T=Threatened Species R=Rare C1=candidate for federal listing with enough substantial information on biological vulnerability and threats to justify listing C2=candidate for federal listing with some evidence of vulnerability, without enough information to justify listing Bunting, Eastern paintedPasserina ciris ciris   C2   Thickets Breeds in Brevard, Volusia, Orange, Seminole, Lake, Marion (some over-winter regionwide, but most leave the state from October-April) Caracara, Audubon's crestedPolyborus plancus audubonii T T T Freshwater marshes and wet prairies Resident in Volusia, Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Indian River, Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Sarasota, De Soto Crane, Florida sandhillGrus canadensis pratensis T   T Freshwater marshes, wet prairies, and dry prairies Resident regionwide Crane, whoopingGrus americana ssc T   Experimentally reintroduced population Osceola Eagle, baldHaliaeetus leucocephalus T E T Pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks and swamps adjacent to open water Resident regionwide Egret, reddishEgretta rufescens ssc C2 R Salt marshes, mangroves, coastal beaches Resident in Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie Egret, snowyEgretta thula ssc   ssc Marsh, lake margins, wet prairies, sand and mud flats Resident regionwide Falcon, Arctic peregrinFalco peregrinus tundris E T E Coastal strand, marshes, fields Winter migrant regionwide Heron, little blueEgretta caerulea ssc   ssc Marshes, wet prairies, swamps, mangroves, sand bars and mud flats Resident regionwide Heron, tricolored (Louisiana)Egretta tricolor ssc   ssc Various wetland habitats, especially estuarine Resident regionwide Ibis, white Eudocimus albus ssc   ssc Fresh and estuarine wetlands Resident regionwide Jay, Florida scrubAphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens T T T Oak scrub Resident in Levy, Marion, Volusia, Seminole, Lake, Citrus, Sumter Orange, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie Kestrel, southeastern AmericanFalco sparveius paulus T C2 T Dry prairies, old fields, pastures, pine flatwoods Resident regionwide Kite, snailRostrhamus sociabilus plumbeus E E E Freshwater marshes and wet prairies Resident in Volusia, Lake, Orange, Seminole, Brevard, Sumter, Polk, Osceola, Indian River, St. Lucie, Highlands, Okeechobee LimpkinAramus guarauna ssc   ssc Swamps and marshes Resident regionwide Owl, Florida burrowingSpeotyto cunicularia floridana ssc   ssc Fields, pastures, dry prairies, yards Resident in Pinellas, Levy Hillsborough, Polk, Lake, Osceola, Orange, Brevard, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, De Soto, Highlands, Okeechobee, Indian River, St. Lucie Oystercatcher, AmericanHaematopus palliatus ssc   T Mud flats and protected coastal water Resident in Levy, Volusia, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie Pelican, brownPelecanus occidentalis ssc   T Mangrove swamps, beaches, open water Resident in Levy, Volusia, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie Plover, pipingCharadrius melodus T T ssc Sand and mud flats Winter visitor in Levy, Volusia, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie Plover, southeastern snowyCharadrius alexandrinus tenuirostris T C2 E Coastal strand, mud and sand flats Resident in Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota Rail, blackLaterallus jamaicensis   C2   Upper reaches of tidal salt and brackish marshes and fresh water marshes Resident and wintering populations in Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Pinellas Shrike, loggerheadLanius ludovicianus   C2   Open habitats such as prairies, pastures, old fields and grassy roadsides Resident regionwide Skimmer, blackRynchops niger ssc   ssc Coastal bays and estuaries; Roosting on beaches , sand bars and spoil banks Resident in Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie Sparrow, Bachman'sAimophila aestivalis   C2   Pine flatwoods and sandhill communities Resident regionwide Sparrow, Florida grasshopperAmmodramus savannarum floridanus E E E Dry prairies Resident in Polk, Osceola, Highlands, Okeechobee, Indian River Sparrow, Henslow'sAmmodramus henslowii   C2   Old fields, roadsides, and moist thickets Winter visitor regionwide Sparrow, Scott's seasideAmmodramus maritimus peninsulae ssc     Coastal marshes Resident in Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, and historically in Hillsborough Spoonbill, roseateAjaia ajaja ssc   R Mud and sand flats, coastal marshes, and mangrove swamps Resident in Volusia, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie Stork, woodMycteria americana E E E Marshes, swamps, wet prairies, pond and lake edges Resident regionwide Tern, leastSterna antillarum T   T Open sandy beaches and flat gravel roofs Resident regionwide;Nesting primarily on roofs inland Warbler, Bachman'sVermivora bachmanii E E E Swamp edges and hammocks Spring and fall migrant (rarest warbler north of Mexico) Warbler, Kirtland'sDendroica kirtlandii E E E Various habitats during migration An extremely rare spring and fall migrant (may occur anywhere in state) Warbler, Stoddard's yellow-throatedDendroica dominica stoddardi   C2 R Mature forests with profuse growth of Spanish moss Resident along the northwest coast of FL, east to Levy county. Woodpecker, Ivory-billedCampephilus principalis E E E Extensive stands of undisturbed lowland hardwoods. (Believed extinct in the United States) Last hope remnant populations in Polk, Hardee, De Soto, Highlands counties Woodpecker, red-cockadedPicoides borealis T E T Mature pine forests with an open understory Resident regionwide where habitat remains Wren, Marian's marshCistothorus palustris marianae ssc   ssc Coastal marshes Resident in Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, and historically in Hillsborough Wren, Worthington's marshCistothorus palustris griseus ssc   ssc Coastal marshes, especially along tidal creeks Resident from Volusia north References: Florida Natural Areas Inventory 1994. Element occurrence records Tallahassee, FL Kale II, H.W. 1978. Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida, Vol. 2 : Birds University Presses of Florida, Gainesville, FL 121 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Animal candidate review for listing as endangered or threatened species Federal Register 59 (219): 58982-59028 Wood, D.A.. 1994. Official lists of endangered & potentially endangered fauna and flora in Florida. Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, FL 22 pp. Sprunt, Jr, A.. 1954 Florida Bird Life Coward-McCann, Inc, New York, NY 527 pp. Table 3. Table 3. Reptiles Common name Scientific name Status Habitat Counties FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FL Comm. on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals E=Endangered Species ssc=Species of Special Concern T=Threatened Species R=Rare C1=candidate for federal listing with enough substantial information on biological vulnerability and threats to justify listing C2=candidate for federal listing with some evidence of vulnerability, without enough information to justify listing Alligator, AmericanAlligator mississippiensis ssc T   Swamps, lakes, rivers and marshes Regionwide Cooter, SuwanneePseudemys concinna suwanniensis ssc   ssc Streams and rivers (nests in sandy uplands) Levy, Citrus, Marion, Sumter, Hernando, Hillsborough Lizard, Florida scrubSceloporus woodi   C2 T Scrub and sandhill communities Marion, Lake, Polk, Highlands, Brevard, Indian River, St Lucie Lizard, island glassOphisaurus compressus   C2   Sandhill, scrub, coastal hammocks, and dry pine flatwoods Regionwide Salt marsh snake, AtlanticNerodia fasciata taeniata T T E Coastal salt marshes Volusia Salt marsh snake, GulfNerodia clarki   C2 R Coastal salt marshes Levy Skink, blue-tail moleEumeces egregius lividus T T E Well-drained sandy uplands, scrub, sandhill, and xeric hammocks The Lake Wales Ridge in Polk and Highlands counties Skink, Cedar Key moleEumeces egregius insularis   C2 R Under driftwood and tidal wrack and in loose sand farther inland Levy Skink, sandNeoseps reynoldsi T T T Scrub and turkey oak barrens Marion, Lake, Orange, Polk, Highlands Snake, eastern indigoDrymarchon corais couperi T T ssc Most natural communities Regionwide Snake, Florida pinePituophis melanoleucus mugitus ssc C2   Sandhill, scrub, and flatwood communities Regionwide Snake, Short-tailedStilostoma extenuatum T C2 T Sandhill and scrub, xeric hammocks adjacent to sandhill communities Levy, Marion, Lake, Sumter, Citrus, Orange, Seminole, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Highlands Snake, southern hognoseHeterodon simus   C2   Sandhill and scrub communities Levy, Marion, Volusia, Citrus, Lake, Orange, Seminole, Sumter, Hernando, Brevard, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, and Indian River Tortoise, gopherGopherus polyphemus ssc C2 T Sandhill, scrub, coastal strand, hammocks, dry prairies, pine flatwoods, roadsides, pastures, old fields Regionwide Turtle, alligator snappingMacroclemys temminckii ssc C2 ssc Deep rivers, lakes, and swamps Levy Turtle, Atlantic greenChelonia mydas mydas E E E Coastal strand and marine waters Nesting in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, and St LucieFound in coastal waters regionwide Turtle, Atlantic loggerheadCarretta caretta caretta T T T Coastal strand and marine waters Nesting in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, and St Lucie, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota Found in coastal waters regionwide Turtle, Atlantic hawksbillEretmochelys imbricata imbricata E E E Coastal strand and marine waters Nesting in Brevard, Indian River, and St Lucie Found in coastal waters regionwide Turtle, Atlantic (Kemp's) RidleyLepidochelys kempii E E E Coastal strand and marine waters Nesting in Pinellas Found in coastal waters of Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Volusia, and Brevard Turtle, leatherbackDermochelys coriacea E E R Coastal strand and marine waters Nesting in St Lucie Found in coastal waters regionwide References: Ashton, Jr, R.E. and P.S. Ashton. 1981. Handbook of reptiles and amphibians of Florida, Part 1: The snakes. Windward Publ, Inc, Miami, FL 176 pp. Ashton, Jr, R.E and P.S. Ashton. 1985. Handbook of reptiles and amphibians of Florida, Part 2 : Lizards, turtles & crocodilians Windward Publ, Inc., Miami, FL 191 pp. Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 1994, Element occurrence records Tallahassee, FL Moler, P. E. 1992. Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida, Vol. 3 : Amphibians and reptiles Univ. Presses of Florida, Gainesville, FL. 121 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Animal candidate review for listing as endangered or threatened species Federal Register 59 (219): 58982-5902 Wood, D.A. 1994. Official lists of endangered & potentially endangered fauna and flora in Florida. Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, FL 22 pp. Table 4. Table 4. Amphibians Common name Scientific name Status Habitat Counties FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FL Comm. on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals E=Endangered Species ssc=Species of Special Concern T=Threatened Species R=Rare C1=candidate for federal listing with enough substantial information on biological vulnerability and threats to justify listing C2=candidate for federal listing with some evidence of vulnerability, without enough information to justify listing Frog, Florida gopher (=crayfish)Rana capito (=areolata) aesopus ssc C2 T Sandhills, pine flatwoods, and breeds in ephemeral ponds Regionwide Salamander, flatwoods Ambystoma cingulatum   C2 R Pine flatwoods and associated cypress heads Marion Siren, gulf hammock dwarf Pseudobranchus striatus lustricolus   C2   Cypress and flatwoods ponds, ditches, and lakes Marion, Levy, Citrus, Hernando References:Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 1994 Element occurrence records Tallahassee, FL Moler, P. E. 1992. Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida, Vol. 3: Amphibians and reptiles Univ. Presses of Florida, Gainesville, FL 121 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Animal candidate review for listing as endangered or threatened species Federal Register 59 (219): 58982-59028 Wood, D.A. 1994. Official lists of endangered & potentially endangered fauna and flora in Florida. Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, FL 22 pp. Table 5. Table 5. Fish Common name Scientific name Status Habitat Counties FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FL Comm. on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals E=Endangered Species ssc=Species of Special Concern T=Threatened Species R=Rare C1=candidate for federal listing with enough substantial information on biological vulnerability and threats to justify listing C2=candidate for federal listing with some evidence of vulnerability, without enough information to justify listing Croaker, stripedBairdiella sanctaeluciae     ssc Marine rock-reef habitats Brevard, Indian River, St Lucie Darter, southern tasselatedEtheostoma olmstedi maculaticeps ssc   T Pools in small and medium sized streams Marion Goby, riverAwaous tajasica     T Fast flowing, well-oxygenated streams and rivers Indian River Goby, slashcheekGobionellus pseudofasciatus     T Flowing fresh water over open sand bottom Brevard, Indian River, St Lucie Goby, spottailGobionellus stigmaturus     ssc Sea grass beds Brevard, Indian River, St Lucie Pipefish, opossumMicrophis brachyurus lineatus     T Adults in dense vegetation in fresh water rivers and streams Juveniles in salt and brackish waters Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie Pupfish, Lake EustisCyprinodon variegatus hubbsi ssc   ssc Lake beaches Shallow water over unvegetated sand Marion, Orange and Lake Rivulus, mangroveRivulus marmoratus ssc   ssc Mangrove swamp and high saltmarsh Brevard and Indian River Shiner, bluenosePteronotropis welaka ssc   ssc Pools in streams Marion, Lake Seminole, Volusia Sleeper, bigmouthGobiomorus dormitor     T Freshwater streams Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Okeechobee Snook, commonCentropomus undecimalis ssc     Mangrove swamps, salt marshes channels Marine and brackish water near cover Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco Sturgeon, AtlanticAcipenser oxyrinchus ssc C2 T Marine and brackish water, moving upstream in larger rivers to breed Brevard, Levy, Pinellas Individuals may stray to any coastal county Sturgeon, shortnoseAcipenser brevirostrum E E E Juveniles in brackish water near the mouth of the St. John's River Adults move up stream to breed Marion, Volusia References: Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 1994 Element occurrence records Tallahassee, FL Gilbert, C.R. 1992. Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida, Volume :Fishes University Presses of Florida, Gainesville, FL 247 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Animal candidate review for listing as endangered or threatened species. Federal Register 59 (219): 58982-59028 Wood, D.A. 1994. Official lists of endangered & potentially endangered fauna and flora in Florida. Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, FL. 22 pp. Table 6. Table 6. Invertebrates Common name Scientific name Status Habitat Counties FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FL Comm. on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals E=Endangered Species ssc=Species of Special Concern T=Threatened Species R=Rare C1=candidate for federal listing with enough substantial information on biological vulnerability and threats to justify listing C2=candidate for federal listing with some evidence of vulnerability, without enough information to justify listing SpongesSponge, Kissimmee Ephydatia subtilis   C2   River and streams Polk, Osceola, Highlands, Okeechobee Sponge, OklawahaDorsilia palmeri   C2   River and streams Marion CrustaceansAmphipod, Florida cave Crangonyx gradimanus   C2 ssc Caves and subterranean waters Marion, Levy, Pasco and Hernando Amphipod, Hobbs' caveCrangonyx hobbsi   C2 ssc Caves and subterranean waters Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Levy Crayfish, Palm Springs cave (=Orlando cave)Procambus acherontis   C2 T Caves and subterranean waters Seminole, Orange ArachnidsSpider, Lake Placid funnel wolf Sosippus placidus   C2 E Open scrub Highlands, Polk InsectsBeetle, aphodius tortoise commensal scarab Aphodius troglodytes   C2 T Gopher tortoise burrows Volusia, Seminole, Pinellas, Highlands (probably regionwide) Beetle, Archbold anomala scarab (scrub anomala)Anomala eximia   C2 R Sand pine scrub Highlands Beetle, caracara commensal scarabTrox howelli   C2 T Nests of caracara Osceola Beetle, corpris tortoise commensal scarabCorpris gopheri   C2 T Gopher tortoise burrows Regionwide Beetle, exiguous anomala scarab (pygmy anomala)Anomala exigua   C2 R Unknown Sumter and Polk Beetle, fig seed diving Desmopachria cenchramis   C2   Pond (sinkhole) in hammock Pasco Beetle, Frost's spring serican scarabSerica frosti   C2 R Archbold Biological Station Highlands Beetle, Lake Wales ridge tiger(=scrub tiger) Cicindela highlandensis   C2   Scrub habitats Polk and Highlands Beetle, Ocala burrowing scarabPeltotrupes youngi   C2 R The big scrub of the Ocala National Forest Marion Beetle, scrub island burrowing scarabMycotrupes pedester   C2 T Deep sand ridges called scrub islands De Soto Beetle, scrub palmetto flower scarabTrigonopelastes floridana   C2 R Restricted to the flowers of the scrub palmetto, Sabal etonia Highlands, Orange, Marion, Indian River Beetle, tortoise commensal scarabOnthophagus polyphemi   C2 T Gopher tortoise burrows Marion, Volusia, Hillsborough, Lake, Pinellas Caddisfly, little oecetis longhornOecetis parva   C2   Unknown Osceola Firefly, Florida intertidal (=fiddler crab firefly)Micronaspis floridana   C2   Coastal marshes Occurs in the same habitats as fiddler crabs Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie Firefly, turtle moundPhoturis sp (undiscribed)   C2   Flatwoods and other habitats Within 25 miles of the coast Levy and northwest Fly, brown merycomyian tabanidMerycomyia brunnea   C2   Unknown Lake (may occur throughout north central Florida) Fly, Delong's mixogaster flowerMixogaster delongi   C2   Unknown Recorded from Monroe, Dade and Alachua, (may eventually be found in central Florida) Fly, Florida asaphomyian tabanidAsaphomyia floridensis   C2 R Scrub habitat Highlands Mayfly, American sand-burrowingDolania americana   C2 T Shifting sand bottoms of fast flowing rivers Levy Microcaddisfly, Florida oxyethiranOxyethira florida   C2 T Lakes Hillsborough Microcaddisfly, Provost's ochrotrichianOchrotrichia provosti   C2 T Flowing water Hillsborough Moth, Okefenokee zaleZale perculta   C2   Cypress heads and cypress / gum ponds Host plant is Ampelothamnus (Pieris) phillyreifolius Regionwide Moth, tortoise commensal noctuid Idia gopheri   C2   Found in the burrows of gopher tortoises Regionwide Moth, tortoise commensal noctuid (= scrub golden aster noctuid moth) Schinia rufipinna   C2   Old fields, dry pinelands, and sandhill Where ever the host plant (Pityopsis graminifolia) occurs Regionwide Skipper, eastern beard grass Atrytone arogos arogos   C2 R Pine flatwoods and sandhill communities Regionwide MolluscsMussel, Florida lance Elliptio waltoni   C2   St. Johns and Oklawaha Rivers Marion, Lake, Volusia, Seminole, Orange, Brevard Mussel, St. John's elephantearElliptio monroensis   C2   St. Johns River Marion, Lake, Volusia, Seminole, Orange, Brevard Snail, Blue Spring (pygmy siltsnail)Cincinnatia parva   C2   Spring run Volusia Snail, Blue Spring hydrobeAphaostracon asthenes   C2 T Spring run Volusia Snail, dense (=thick-shelled) hydrobeAphaostracon pycnus   C2 ssc Spring run Lake Snail, Enterprise spring (Enterprise siltsnail)Cincinnatia monroensis   C2 E Seepage spring run Volusia Snail, Fenney Spring hydrobeAphaostracon xynoelictus   C2 ssc Spring run Sumter Snail, helicoid spring (crystal siltsnail)Cincinnatia helicogyra   C2   Spring run Citrus Snail, Ponderous Spring (Ponderous siltsnail)Cincinnatia ponderosa   C2   Spring run Seminole Snail, Seminole Spring (Seminole siltsnail)Cincinnatia vanhyningi   C2   Spring run Lake Snail, Wekiwa Spring (Wekiwa siltsnail)Cincinnatia wekiwae   C2   Spring run Orange Snail, Wekiwa Springs hydrobeAphaostracon monas   C2 T Spring run Orange References: Deyrup, M. and R. Franz 1994.Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida, Vol. 4: Invertebrates Univ. Presses of Florida, Gainesville, FL 798 pp. Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 1994. Element occurrence records. Tallahassee, FL Franz, R. 1982. Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida, Volume 6: Invertebrates. University Presses of Florida, Gainesville, FL 131 pp. Heppner, J. Pers. Comm. Range information on Lepidoptera Fl. Dept. Agric. & Consumer Services, Div. of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL Lyod, J. Pers. Comm . Range information on fireflies Dept. of Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Pescador, M Pers. Comm. Range information on caddisflies Dept. of Entomology, Florida A & M University, Tallahassee Thomas, M. Pers. Comm. Range information on beetles. Fl. Dept. Agriculture and Consumer Services, Div. of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Animal candidate review for listing as endangered or threatened species Federal Register 59 (219): 58982-59028 Wood, D .A. 1994. Official lists of endangered & potentially endangered fauna and flora in Florida. Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, FL 22 pp. Footnotes 1. This document is WEC-60, 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. Published March, 1997 as "Central Florida Wildlife in Danger of Extinction". Reviewed: February, 1998. Minor Revision: August, 2001. Please visit the EDIS Website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/. 2. William H. Kern, Jr., Ph.D., urban wildlife extension specialist, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Pinellas County, District IV, Largo, FL 34644.