Missouri Endangered Plants and Animals

The state of Missouri is home to hundreds of species of plants and animals. Of these numerous species, only 17 appear on the state's endangered list with a further 11 listed as threatened. As of April 2011, four other species are being assessed as proposed to be endangered. This means they are a species that is considered threatened but may need to be reclassified as endangered.

  1. Mammals and Birds

    • The state of Missouri is home to just three endangered mammal species, all of which are bats. The effects of human disturbance and natural flooding in the cave roosts of several bat species have pushed population numbers to dangerously low levels. The Indiana, gray and Ozark big-eared bats are all listed as endangered. The small white and black least tern is the state's only endangered bird due to habitat loss caused by the damming of rivers.

    Fish and Amphibians

    • As of April 2011, the Ozark hellbender salamander is not endangered, but it is being assessed closely for an upgrade from threatened. Rapid population decline has put the future of this large, 2-foot-long amphibian species in doubt. Of the state's many fish species only two are listed as endangered. The large pallid sturgeon is at risk due to loss of river habitat and the stream-dwelling Topeka shiner is also at high risk due to decreases in suitable habitat and the introduction of predatory species.

    Invertebrates

    • Missouri's invertebrates are among the state's most threatened species, with nine listed as endangered. The Hines emerald dragonfly is listed as endangered due to the draining of large areas of wetlands in which they live. Freshwater clams are being hard hit in the state with six species at risk due mostly to habitat change caused by the damming of rivers. Those listed as endangered are the Curtis, Higgins eye and pink mucket pearly-mussels, as well as the fat pocketbook, scaleshell and winged maple-leaf clams. Other endangered invertebrates include the tumbling creek snail and the cave crayfish.

    Plants

    • A number of the state's plants are considered threatened, but only two are listed as endangered. The pondberry, which is a deciduous shrub, is endangered throughout its whole natural range including Missouri, as well as numerous other more southern states. The draining of wetland habitats have been the main reason for its decline. Running buffalo clover is a small, perennial plant species, which has become extinct in some states such as Illinois and Kansas. It is endangered in Missouri due to lack of suitable habit.