Species of Greatest Conservation Need

**Species of Greatest Conservation Need** (Updated: 06/16/2025)
Scientifc Name	Common Name	Taxonomic Group	SGCN Status	Federal Status	State Status	Global Rank	State Rank	Endemic	General Habitat Type(s)
Geomys personatus maritimus	maritime pocket gopher	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G4T2	S2	Yes	Fossorial, in deep sandy soils; feeds mostly from within burrow on roots and other plant parts, especially grasses; ecologically important as prey species and in influencing soils, microtopography, habitat heterogeneity, and plant diversity
Geomys streckeri	Strecker's pocket gopher	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G1Q	S1	Yes	Underground burrows of deep, sandy soils; feed mostly on vegetation; reproductive data not well known, but likely breed year round, with no more than two litters per year
Geomys texensis bakeri	Frio pocket gopher	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G3T2	S2	Yes	Associated with nearly level Atco soil, which is well-drained and consists of sandy surface layers with loam extending to as deep as two meters
Geomys texensis texensis	Llano pocket gopher	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G3T2	S2	Yes	Found in deep, brown loamy sands or gravelly sandy loams and is isolated from other species of pocket gophers by intervening shallow stony to gravelly clayey soils
Lasiurus cinereus	hoary bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G3G4	S3	No	Hoary bats are highly migratory, high-flying bats that have been noted throughout the state. Females are known to migrate to Mexico in the winter, males tend to remain further north and may stay in Texas year-round. Commonly associated with forests (foliage roosting species) but are found in unforested parts of the state and lowland deserts. Tend to be captured over water and large, open flyways.
Lasiurus ega	southern yellow bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S3S4	No	Relict palm grove is only known Texas habitat. Neotropical species roosting in palms, forages over water; insectivorous; breeding in late winter. Roosts in dead palm fronds in ornamental palms in urban areas.
Lasiurus seminolus	Seminole bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S3	No	Pine-oak and long-leaf pine in east Texas. Habitats include pine, mixed pine-hardwood, and hardwood forests of uplands and bottomlands, particularly pine-dominated forests, including mature pine and pine-hardwood corridors in managed pine forest landscapes (Menzel et al. 1998, 1999, 2000; Carter et al. 2004; Marks and Marks 2006; Perry and Thill 2007; Perry et al. 2007; Hein et al. 2008; Ammerman et al. 2012).
Lasiurus xanthinus	western yellow bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G4G5	S1	No	Forages over water both perennial and intermittent sources, found at low elevations (< 6,000 feet), roosts in vegetation (yucca, hackberry, sycamore, cypress, and especially palm); also hibernates in palm; locally common in residential areas landscaped with palms in Tuscon and Phoenix, Arizona; young born in June; insectivore
Leopardus pardalis	ocelot	Mammals	Yes	E 07/21/1982	E 05/19/1974	G4	S1	No	Restricted to mesquite-thorn scrub and live-oak mottes; avoids open areas. Dense mixed brush below four feet; thorny shrublands; dense chaparral thickets; breeds and raises young June-November.
Leptonycteris nivalis	Mexican long-nosed bat	Mammals	Yes	E 09/30/1988	E 12/30/1988	G3	S1	No	Pine-oak woodland to desert in Big Bend region. In U.S., found roosting in high elevations of the Chisos Mountains (scrub-woodlands dominated by pinyon pine/oaks) and feeding on nectar from desert cacti (Agave) found at various elevations in more open scrub-grassland areas. Colonial, cave-dwelling species that usually inhabits deep caverns; breeding season April-June, with single offspring born in Mexico prior to migration to Texas.
Liomys irroratus	Mexican spiny pocket mouse	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S3	No	Lives in dense brush on ridges forming the old Rio Grande river bed. Usually closely associated with prickly pear thickets. Nests are in underground burrows.
Mephitis macroura	hooded skunk	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S1S2	No	Rocky canyons & riparian corridors at low elevations, rarely to 6000 feet. Avoids man-made habitations. Only known from the Trans-Pecos regions along the Rio Grande.
Microtus ochrogaster	prairie vole	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S1	No	Extreme northern Panhandle; colonial; upland herbaceous fields; grasslands, old agricultural lands and thickets; places where there is suitable cover for runways; floodplains of rivers serve as dispersal routes; railroad and highway right-of-ways may serve as corridors for dispersal; nests in burrows, under boards or logs, and above ground in grassy clumps; breeds year-round, esp. spring/fall; peaks depend on availability of moisture
Mormoops megalophylla	ghost-faced bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S2	No	Winter roosts are in large limestone caves. Buildings and rock crevasses provide roosts, as well.
Mustela nigripes	black-footed ferret	Mammals	Yes	E 06/02/1970	Not Listed	G1	SX	No	Short-grass prairie with prairie dog towns. Inhabited prairie dog towns in the general area
Myotis austroriparius	southeastern myotis bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G4	S3?	No	Caves are rare in Texas portion of range; buildings, hollow trees are probably important. Historically, lowland pine and hardwood forests with large hollow trees; associated with ecological communities near water. Roosts in cavity trees of bottomland hardwoods, concrete culverts, and abandoned man-made structures.
Myotis californicus	California myotis	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S3	No	Often use buildings and mines as night roosts.
Myotis ciliolabrum	western small-footed myotis bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S3	No	Mountainous regions of the Trans-Pecos, usually in wooded areas, also found in grassland and desert scrub habitats; roosts beneath slabs of rock, behind loose tree bark, and in buildings; maternity colonies often small and located in abandoned houses, barns, and other similar structures; apparently occurs in Texas only during spring and summer months; insectivorous
Myotis thysanodes	fringed myotis	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G4	S3	No	Higher elevations of the Trans-Pecos, cliffs, rock crevices.
Myotis velifer	cave myotis bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G4G5	S2S3	No	Colonial and cave-dwelling; also roosts in rock crevices, old buildings, carports, under bridges, and even in abandoned Cliff Swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota) nests; roosts in clusters of up to thousands of individuals; hibernates in limestone caves of Edwards Plateau and gypsum cave of Panhandle during winter; opportunistic insectivore.
Myotis volans	long-legged myotis bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G4G5	S1S2	No	Found in pine-oak woodland to grassland ecotone, higher elevations of Trans-Pecos.High, open woods and mountainous terrain; nursery colonies (which may contain several hundred individuals) form in summer in buildings, crevices, and hollow trees; apparently does not use caves as day roosts, but may use such sites at night; single offspring born June-July.
Myotis yumanensis	Yuma myotis	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S3?	No	Caves, mines, tunnels and buildings in Trans-Pecos.
Nasua narica	white-nosed coati	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	T 01/30/1997	G5	S1	No	Woodlands, riparian corridors and canyons.Most individuals in Texas probably transients from Mexico; diurnal and crepuscular; very sociable; forages on ground and in trees; omnivorous; may be susceptible to hunting, trapping, and pet trade
Nyctinomops femorosaccus	pocketed free-tailed bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S3	No	Semiarid desert grasslands; roosts in caves cliff crevices under building roof tiles; feed on insects; females bear one pup per season Jul - Aug
Nyctinomops macrotis	big free-tailed bat	Mammals	Yes	Not Listed	Not Listed	G5	S3	No	Habitat data sparse but records indicate that species prefers to roost in crevices and cracks in high canyon walls, but will use buildings, as well; reproduction data sparse, gives birth to single offspring late June-early July; females gather in nursery colonies; winter habits undetermined, but may hibernate in the Trans-Pecos; opportunistic insectivore