Species of Greatest Conservation Need

1279 species
Taxonomic Group
Federal Status
State Status
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Species of Greatest Conservation Need (Updated: 01/31/2024)
Common Name Scientifc Name Taxonomic Group Federal Status State Status Global Rank State Rank Endemic General Habitat Type(s)
gumbo darter Etheostoma thompsoni Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed GNR SNR False Endemic to the Neches, Sabine and Calcasieu river systems of east Texas and western Louisiana; tends to congregate near shore, sometimes under cuts among exposed roots with accumulated vegetational debris over a sand and gravel substrate with very little silt.
Amistad gambusia Gambusia amistadensis Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed GX SX True This species inhabitat a large vegetated spring and its effluent (Minckley et al. 1991, Page and Burr 2011).
Big Bend gambusia Gambusia gaigei Fish - Freshwater LE E G1 S1 True Constant temperature environments; clear, shallow water fed by warm springs, or shallow margins of deeper water among dense aquatic vegetation. Presently restricted to one artificial springfed pool in Big Bend National Park close to the Rio Grande; type locality described as a marshy cattail slough fed by springs.
San Marcos Gambusia Gambusia georgei Fish - Freshwater LE E GX SX True Presumably extinct. Constant temperature environments; clear, shallow water fed by warm springs, or shallow margins of deeper water among dense aquatic vegetation.
Clear Creek gambusia Gambusia heterochir Fish - Freshwater LE E G1 S1 True Restricted to impounded headwater springs of Clear Creek, a tributary to the San Saba River (Menard County). Clear, constant temperature water with low pH (6.1-6.5) and abundant aquatic vegetation composed mostly of an endemic Ceratophyllum.
spotfin gambusia Gambusia krumholzi Fish - Freshwater Not Listed T G1 S1 True Restricted to San Felipe and Sycamore creeks in Texas; also occurs in Mexico. Prefers densely vegetated, edge or quiet water habitats in close association with areas of swift flows.
Pecos gambusia Gambusia nobilis Fish - Freshwater LE E G2 S2 False Endemic to the Pecos River basin in southeastern New Mexico and western Texas. Restricted to two locations in Texas (Balmorhea springs complex and Diamond Y Draw). Stenothermal springs, runs, ci�negas and irrigation canals carrying spring waters.
Blotched Gambusia Gambusia senilis Fish - Freshwater Not Listed T G3G4 SX False The population once known from the Devils River has likely been extirpated. Formerly known from springs and vegetated, quiet pools of the Devils River; still extant in Rio Conchos drainage, Mexico.
Rio Grande chub Gila pandora Fish - Freshwater Not Listed T G3 S1 False Formerly widespread in creeks of upper Rio Grande and Pecos watersheds; isolated population found in Little Aguja Creek in the Davis Mountains of Trans-Pecos Texas. Pools of small to moderate-sized tributaries, often near inflow of riffles and in association with cover such as undercut banks and plant debris.
goldeye Hiodon alosoides Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed G5 S3 False Restricted to the Red River basin; adults in quiet turbid water of medium to large lowland rivers, small lakes, marshes and muddy shallows connected to them.
Rio Grande silvery minnow Hybognathus amarus Fish - Freshwater LE E G1 SX False Historically Rio Grande and Pecos River systems and canals; reintroduced in Big Bend area; pools and backwaters of medium to large streams with low or moderate gradient in mud, sand, or gravel bottom.
Mississippi silvery minnow Hybognathus nuchalis Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed G5 S4 False Found in eastern Texas streams, from the Brazos River eastward and northward to the Red River; found in moderate current; silty, muddy, or rocky substrate. In Texas, adults likely to inhabit smaller tributary streams.
plains minnow Hybognathus placitus Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed G4 S4 False Range in central Texas from the Colorado and Brazos basins northward to the Red River; found in large, often turbid rivers having exposed, shallow, sand-filled channels where sediments accumulate in shallow backwaters, gentle eddies, and along the deeper edges of sand �waves� that are formed on shifting substrate by actions of the current.
pallid shiner Hybopsis amnis Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed G4 S4 False This pale minnow ranges widely throughout the Mississippi River basin southward along the Gulf Coastal Plain in Texas to the Guadalupe River basin (Hubbs et al. 2008). Occurs in quiet waters over sand/silt bottoms, often at the end of sand and gravel bars; intolerant of heavy siltation and pollutants (Clemmer 1980). Nothing is known about the spawning or food habits of this species (Kwak 1991).
headwater catfish Ictalurus lupus Fish - Freshwater Not Listed T G3 S1S2 False Originally throughout streams of the Edwards Plateau and the Rio Grande basin, currently limited to Rio Grande drainage, including Pecos River basin; springs, and sandy and rocky riffles, runs, and pools of clear creeks and small rivers.
speckled chub Macrhybopsis aestivalis Fish - Freshwater Not Listed T G3G4 S1S2 False Found throughout the Rio Grande and lower Pecos River but occurs most frequently between the R�o Conchos confluence and the Pecos River. Flowing water over coarse sand and fine gravel substrates in streams; typically found in raceways and runs.
prairie chub Macrhybopsis australis Fish - Freshwater Not Listed T G3 S1 False Upper Red River basin. Found in flowing water over coarse sand and fine gravel substrates in streams; may be found in intermittent streams and in saline waters.
shoal chub Macrhybopsis hyostoma Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed G5 SNR False Medium to large rivers in the Sabine, Brazos, and Colorado rivers. Prefers streams with well-defined pools and riffles/runs, braided channels, and shifting sand/gravel bars. Considered a habitat specialist in habitats with clean sand or pea-size gravel substrates and moderate current velocities
burrhead chub Macrhybopsis marconis Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed G4 SNR True Occurs in the San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers; remnant populations may exist in the Edwards Plateau portion of the Colorado River. Occupies flowing water over coarse sand and fine gravel substrates in medium to large streams; found to be most abundant in riffles over large gravel and cobble.
silver chub Macrhybopsis storeriana Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed G5 S3 False Red River and Brazos River basins. Mainly restricted to large, often silty rivers. Ranges over gravel to silt substrates but found more commonly over silt or mud bottom.
peppered chub Macrhybopsis tetranema Fish - Freshwater PE T G1 S1 False Historically found throughout Arkansas River basin but is now found only in portions of the upper South Canadian River upstream of Lake Meredith. Flowing water over coarse sand and fine gravel substrates in streams.
Guadalupe bass Micropterus treculii Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed G3 S3 True Endemic to the streams of the northern and eastern Edwards Plateau including portions of the Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, and San Antonio basins; species also found outside of the Edwards Plateau streams in decreased abundance, primarily in the lower Colorado River; two introduced populations have been established in the Nueces River system. A pure population was re-established in a portion of the Blanco River in 2014. Species prefers lentic environments but commonly taken in flowing water; numerous smaller fish occur in rapids, many times near eddies; large individuals found mainly in riffle tail races; usually found in spring-fed streams having clear water and relatively consistent temperatures.
spotted sucker Minytrema melanops Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed G5 S3 False Found primarily in east Texas streams from the Red to the Brazos river basins. An isolated, disjunct population occurs in the Llano River near Junction downstream to about Mason; this may be an introduced population. Typically in clear creeks with firm substrates.
longlip jumprock Moxostoma albidum Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed GNR SNR False Restricted to the lower Rio Grande, lower Pecos and tributaries (e.g., Devils River). Rocky runs and riffles of creeks and small to medium rivers; often near boulders in swift water.
Mexican redhorse Moxostoma austrinum Fish - Freshwater Not Listed Not Listed G3 S1 False Limited/uncertain distribution within the Rio Grande. Rocky runs and riffles of creeks and small to medium rivers; often near boulders in swift water.