A POCKET GUIDE TO

Kansas Threatened andEndangered Species

Second Edition

Edwin J. Miller, Bob Gress & Chris Berens

Funded by the Chickadee Checkoff,Westar Energy Green Team and The Nature Conservancy

Published by the Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center

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Table of Contents• Introduction • 2

• How To Use This Guide • 4Plants

■ Running Buffalo Clover • 5■ Mead’s Milkweed • 6■ Western Prairie Fringed Orchid • 7

Insects■ American Burying Beetle • 8■ Scott Optioservus Riffle Beetle • 9

Molluscs■ Spectaclecase • 10■ Flat Floater • 11■ Elktoe • 12■ Rock Pocketbook • 13■ Flutedshell • 14■ Rabbitsfoot • 15■ Ouachita Kidneyshell • 16■ Western Fanshell • 17■ Mucket • 18■ Ellipse • 19■ Butterfly • 20■ Neosho Mucket • 21■ Slender Walker • 22■ Sharp Hornsnail • 23■ Delta Hydrobe • 24

Fish■ Pallid Sturgeon • 25■ Peppered Chub • 26■ Western Silvery Minnow • 27■ Plains Minnow • 28■ Sturgeon Chub • 29■ Shoal Chub • 30■ Sicklefin Chub • 31■ Silver Chub • 32■ Redspot Chub • 33■ Hornyhead Chub • 34■ Arkansas River Shiner • 35Ellipse

Western PrairieFringed Orchid

Cover Photo: Whooping Crane

©Bob Gress

©Bob Gress

©Edwin Miller

■ Topeka Shiner • 36■ Flathead Chub • 37■ Neosho Madtom • 38■ Arkansas Darter • 39■ Blackside Darter • 40

Amphibians■ Eastern Newt • 41■ Longtail Salamander • 42■ Cave Salamander • 43■ Grotto Salamander • 44■ Green Toad • 45■ Strecker’s Chorus Frog • 46■ Green Frog • 47■ Eastern Narrowmouth Toad • 48

Turtles■ Northern Map Turtle • 49

Reptiles■ Broadhead Skink • 50■ New Mexico Threadsnake • 51■ Checkered Garter Snake • 52

Birds■ Whooping Crane • 53■ Snowy Plover • 54■ Piping Plover • 55■ Eskimo Curlew • 56■ Least Tern • 57■ Lesser Prairie Chicken • 58■ Black-capped Vireo • 59■ Red Knot • 60

Mammals■ Gray Myotis • 61■ Black-footed Ferret • 62■ Eastern Spotted Skunk • 63

• The Bald Eagle Success Story • 64• Species In Need Of

Conservation (SINC) • 65

• Acknowledgements • 67

• Pocket Guides • 68

Eastern Newt

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©Suzanne L. Collins

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IntroductionThere are over 20,000 species of nongame wildlife in

Kansas. Using survey and research information to track theoccurrence, trends and range decline, about 60 species aredeemed rare enough to be listed as threatened or endangered.Some species, such as the Cave Salamander, are rare due totheir specialized adaptations to unique habitats. Big riverchubs (large minnows) have become rare due to changesbrought about by humans. Species like the Green Frog are onthe periphery of their range and rare in Kansas but moreplentiful in neighboring states.

Rare species protection was implemented with the KansasNongame and Endangered Species Act of 1975. This actprovided the state authority to define and list endangered andthreatened species. Endangered species are any species ofwildlife whose continued existence as a viable component ofthe state's wild fauna is determined to be in jeopardy.Threatened species are any species of wildlife that appearlikely, within the foreseeable future, to become an endangeredspecies. These designations protect the animal fromcommercial or personal possession. Kansas law also givesauthority to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks andTourism to review projects requiring a state or federal permitor those funded by tax revenues. This process is designed tosafeguard listed wildlife. Some species, including rare plants,are also listed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and protectedby federal law, the Endangered Species Act of 1973. With theexception of plants, for which the state grants no protectivestatus, the same species listed under the federal act are alsoconsidered for state listing; however, not all species on thefederal list will be state listed.

As we increasingly alter the landscape, generalist specieslike raccoons and crows, which are well adapted to humans,tend to increase in numbers. Meanwhile, specialist species likesalamanders and bats become fewer and more disconnected.These isolated populations are more vulnerable to localextinction by natural events such as droughts, floods,hailstorms and human-caused factors such as pollution,habitat changes and exotic species introductions. The listing ofa species as threatened or endangered is an attempt to ensurerare species continue to be a functioning component of theecosystem.

There are a variety of reasons, ranging from spiritual toutilitarian, why people value rare wildlife. The federalEndangered Species Act recognizes that “endangered speciesof fish, wildlife, and plants are of aesthetic, ecological,historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation andits people.” All these species play a role in the properfunctioning of the food web. Some are excellent indicators ofenvironmental health. For instance, most of the freshwatermussels are barometers of water quality because they areimmobile filter feeders that cannot escape pollution, requirespecific fish hosts for their larvae (glochidia) and live forseveral decades.

Simply knowing rare wildlife will continue to exist as partof our natural heritage is enough for many people to supporttheir conservation. Research conducted by ResponsiveManagement (2011)* found that 91 percent of Kansanssurveyed support listing of rare species and protecting habitatscritical to the existence of these species.

Recovery plans continue to be developed for listed species.The objectives of these plans are to guide research andmanagement aimed at enhancing the listed species'populations. The ultimate goal is to be able to remove thespecies from their threatened or endangered status.

* “Kansas Residents’ Opinions on Threatened andEndangered Wildlife and Actions to ProtectWildlife”, available online at:www.responsivemanagement.com/

Nomenclature in this booklet follows that used byNatureServe (natureserve.org), an international source ofstatus information for animal and plant species.

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How To Use This GuideThe purpose of this guide is to increase the awareness and

understanding of federal and/or state threatened andendangered species listed within the state of Kansas. TheUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service determines the federalstatus, while the state status is determined by the KansasDepartment of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. Both federal andstate threatened and endangered species lists undergo periodicpetitions, review, and revisions that may change the listingstatus of any species within this guide. This guide provides themost current and updated species lists as of January 2015. Thisguide is not intended to provide information and speciesdistribution in regards to any environmental assessment forthreatened or endangered species regulatory requirements. Forthe most current threatened and endangered speciesinformation pertaining to regulatory requirements, pleaseconsult the listing agency. For updates to this pocket guideplease visit www.gpnc.org.

For the purpose of increasing awareness, speciesdistribution maps are included in the guide. These maps are tobe used as a general reference. Even though the entire countyis shaded, this does not indicate the entire land area of thecounty has that indicated designation. The counties colored inyellow are used only for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken andindicate the most current estimated occupied range of thespecies as determined through the federal listing process in2014. The counties colored in purple indicate critical habitat asdesignated through the listing process or as stated withinspecies recovery plans. Counties colored in light blue and lightgreen (plants) indicate historical records and those colored indark green (plants) indicate counties with current records ofthe plant.

ANIMALSEstimated occupancy range

Designated critical habitat

Historical recordsPLANTS

Current recordsHistorical records

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Running Buffalo CloverTrifoliumstoloniferum

F e d e r a l S t a t u s :Endangered

K a n s a s S t a t u s : NoneC o m m e n t s : Running

Buffalo Clover mayhave ecological tiesdirectly connected toits namesake. It isthought that sitedisturbance, seedgermination, and plantdispersal provided bymigratory herds ofbison enhanced thesurvival of this plant.Ranging from Kansasto West Virginia, thisclover is found in forestopenings with rich soil.Prior to 1985 it wasthought to be extinct, when populations were found inWest Virginia. Since then, many other populations havebeen found east of Kansas. Seeds have been cultivated toensure its genetic material will not be lost. Some stateshave reintroduced Running Buffalo Clover on publiclands. This perennial plant looks and grows similar to theWhite Clover that frequents suburban lawns. It hassimilar flower heads and blooms in spring but theflowering stem has leaves attached; leaves are absentfrom the flowering stemsof White Clover. RunningBuffalo Clover in Kansasis known only fromMiami County, where ithasn’t been documentedsince the 1880s.

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Mead’s MilkweedAsclepias meadii

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : ThreatenedK a n s a s S t a t u s : NoneC o m m e n t s : Most milkweeds need large insects for

pollination and Mead’s Milkweed is no exception.Bumblebees are the essential pollinators in the life cycleof this plant. Found in moist to dry tallgrass prairies andglades with sand or silty loam soils, Mead’s Milkweedresponds well to periodic burning as fire stimulatesgrowth and flowering. Flower production is sporadicduring drought conditions. The underground rhizomesallow the plant to survive in harvested hay meadows, butmoderate to heavy grazing pressure can eliminate it froma site. The greenish-cream cluster of fragrant flowersoccurs on a drooping umbrella-shaped flower head calledan umbel. These plants are difficult to find even when inbloom. There are approximately 250 sites in easternKansas where Mead’s Milkweed can be found, whichrepresents the majority ofthe known globalpopulations.

■ Mead’s Milkweed

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Western Prairie Fringed OrchidPlatantherapraeclara

F e d e r a l S t a t u s :Threatened

K a n s a s S t a t u s :None

C o m m e n t s : The“fringe” in thename, WesternPrairie FringedOrchid, refers tothe laceratemargins of thelower flowerpetal. It is aperennial plantthat can godormant duringperiods ofdrought. Itsmultiple whiteblooms on a singleflower stalkappear in June or July. The existence of this plant may betied closely to its nocturnal pollinators, species within thesphinx moth family, which are highly attracted to thescent of the flowers. The Western Prairie Fringed Orchidis found in moist tallgrass prairie or sedge meadowhabitats. Development, fire suppression, overgrazing,habitat fragmentation and the loss of native prairie tofarmland have made thisa rare plant. It is found insix states atapproximately 75 sites. InKansas, it is found at foursites in four counties.

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American Burying BeetleNicrophorusamericanus

Federal Status:Endangered

Kansas Status:Endangered

Comments: TheAmerican BuryingBeetle belongs to asmall group ofbeetles known tobury small, deadanimals. This large,strikingly-colored

beetle is nocturnal. It uses its sensitive antennae to detectthe odor of a recently dead mouse or bird. If an unmatedmale locates a carcass, he flies to a nearby perch andreleases a pheromone to attract a mate. The mated pair ofbeetles will move the carcass to a suitable site of loosesoil and quickly bury it. Once underground, the feathersor fur are removed and the carcass is anointed withsecretions to help preserve it from bacterial decay.Parental care is rare in beetles but these adults remainunderground to protect their young and regurgitate fooddirectly to their larval offspring. The American BuryingBeetle was once found in 35 states across the easternUnited States. Now it only occupies the eastern andwestern periphery of its former range. It has beendocumented in Rhode Island, South Dakota, Nebraska,Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Kansas, withreintroductions attempted in Missouri, Massachusettsand Ohio.

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Scott Optioservus Riffle BeetleOptioservus phaeus

Federal Status: NoneKansas Status: EndangeredComments: The only known place in the world where the

Scott Optioservus Riffle Beetle can be found is at ScottState Park. The Scott Optioservus Riffle Beetle lives incool water with a high concentration of dissolvedoxygen. A short stretch of spring-fed stream is home tothis diminutive beetle (0.1 inch length) which can befound clinging to rocks. The rocks provide the surfacearea where it grazes on diatoms and periphyton. Thelarva possesses gills at the tip of its abdomen and mayremain at this stage for 2-3 years. After pupating, theadult beetle is winged and can fly short distances butsoon returns to water and loses the ability to fly.Although the site is protected from development, thequantity and quality ofgroundwater entering theinhabited stream is ofgreater concern for thebeetle’s continuedsurvival.

■ Scott Optioservus Riffle Beetle

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SpectaclecaseCumberlandia monodonta

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : EndangeredK a n s a s S t a t u s : None (probably extirpated)C o m m e n t s : The Spectaclecase has an elongated shell, its

length (up to 8 inches) being three times its height. Theventral surface is concave which gives the shell a banana-shaped appearance. The color is dark brown turningtowards black with age. The Spectaclecase is found in-between and under the edges of large boulders in deepstretches of rivers. This habitat is not typical of mostmussels, which usually inhabit gravel or silt substrates.Relic shells were recently found in the Marais des CygnesRiver but no live individuals have been found in Kansas.

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Flat FloaterAnodonta suborbiculata

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : The Flat Floater lives in the soft mud of oxbow

lakes and ponds that are occasionally flooded by theNeosho and Marais des Cygnes rivers. Relative to otherfreshwater mussels, it is a short-lived species (8-12 years).The thin, yellowish-green shell is smooth, shiny andnearly circular. There are no interlocking teeth to hold thevalves together. The tiny, hooked larvae (glochidia) mustattach to a host fish before they can mature. In late wintera female flat floater releases mucous strands laced withglochidia. When a fish swims through this “web,” some ofthe glochidia clamp down on the fish’s fins. If the fish is asuitable host and a spring flood occurs, the fish will carrythese “hitchhikers” to invade other oxbow habitats whenthey drop off the hostfish. There are severalknown fish hosts inKansas including WhiteCrappie, Warmouth,Largemouth Bass, GoldenShiner and Mosquitofish.

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ElktoeAlasmidonta marginata

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : The Elktoe has a beautifully-marked shell

with narrow rays and spots on a background of bright,yellowish green. It is relatively thin-shelled with poorlydeveloped interior teeth. Freshwater mussels have anextendible foot used for locomotion. In the Elktoe, it isorange and elongated. In Kansas, the Elktoe is found inthe Spring and Marais des Cygnes rivers. It lives underswift, flowing riffles in stable gravel or gravel-sandsubstrates. The larval form of this mussel has a pair ofhooks that enable it to clamp onto a fish’s fin. If the fishis a suitable host, the glochidia (larvae) eventuallytransform into juvenile mussels and drop off. The hostfishes found in Kansas are the White Sucker, NorthernHogsucker, ShortheadRedhorse and Warmouth.

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Rock PocketbookArcidens confragosus

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : This rare Kansas mussel is found only in the

Marais des Cygnes River and Pottawatomie Creek. It canlive in slow-moving rivers with muddy substrates. Thewavy shell has unique knobs located on the umbos (thedorsally raised or inflated portion of the shells) whichhelp anchor the animal in the substrate. The shell is darkgreenish-brown to black. Like other freshwater mussels,the Rock Pocketbook can be aged by counting its growth-rest lines, similar to the rings on a tree. Most riverinemussels live for decades and some may reach a centuryin age. The fish hosts for the Rock Pocketbook includefreshwater Drum, White Crappie, Gizzard Shad, ChannelCatfish and American Eel.

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FlutedshellLasmigona costata

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Flutedshell can be best identified by the

wavy flutings on its posterior end. These look likerounded hills and valleys that resemble corrugations. If ashell is found, the lateral teeth are absent or so reducedthey do not interlock. In Kansas, the Flutedshell can befound in the Spring and Neosho rivers. A riverbed ofmostly gravel with moderate current is ideal habitat forthis mussel. The larval forms, called glochidia, of theFlutedshell attach to the fins of their fish hosts using apair of tiny hooks. They remain attached until theymetamorphose and drop off as miniature mussels.Meanwhile, the fish host may transport them to newhabitat. The fish hosts that occur in Kansas areLargemouth Bass, BandedDarter, NorthernHogsucker and CommonCarp.

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RabbitsfootQuadrula cylindrica

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : ThreatenedK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : This mussel is named because of its general

shape. Its length is about three times longer than itsheight. The elongated, greenish-brown shell has a row ofknobs and exhibits a beautiful pattern of dark triangles. Itis one of the rarest mussels in Kansas and throughout itsrange. The Rabbitsfoot is most often found in clearstreams with swift current flowing over gravel substrates.Specimens can be found in the Spring River and a shortstretch of the mid-Neosho River. The fish hosts for thismussel in Kansas have been identified as the Spotfin, Redand Bluntface Shiners. Efforts to reintroduce Rabbitsfootmussels to the Cottonwood and Verdigris rivers areunderway.

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Ouachita KidneyshellPtychobranchus occidentalis

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Ouachita Kidneyshell is an Ozarkian

mussel that occurs in southeast Kansas. It is found inriffles of the Fall, Verdigris and Spring rivers. The shell isflattened, heavy for its size and kidney-shaped. The shellhas several distinct fine-lined rays radiating from theumbo (the dorsally raised or inflated portion of the shell).Glochidia (larvae) are released from the female in packetsthat resemble aquatic insects. Each packet is a lure thatcontains about 250 glochidia. If a fish bites on it, thispacket bursts in its mouth. Some of the released glochidiaflow over the fish’s gills where they quickly snap shut toattach. Once on the gill filaments, the glochidia encyst,metamorphose into juveniles, and then drop off the hostto begin a newgeneration. The knownfish hosts in Kansas areOrangethroat andGreenside Darters.

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Western FanshellCyprogenia aberti

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : Wide, greenish, radiating rays on its shell give

the Western Fanshell its name. This mussel lives in gravelbeds under a swift current. It is found in the Fall,Verdigris and Spring rivers and is now extirpated fromthe Neosho River. The known host fishes in Kansas areFantail, Orangethroat and Slenderhead Darters, Logperchand Banded Sculpin. The female Western Fanshell slowlyextrudes a white, wormlike lure (conglutinate) to attractthe host fish. The core of this lure is composed ofapproximately 20,000 infertile eggs but the outer areasare lined with live larval mussels called glochidia. Whenthe lure is bitten by the host fish, some of the hooklessglochidia become dislodged and snap shut on the fish’sgills. Each year, thefemale Western Fanshellmay release up to 30 ofthese 2-3 inch long lures.Mound-building Indiansevidently revered thismussel as they have beenfound in burial mounds.

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MucketActinonaias ligamentina

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : This smooth, nondescript-looking shell is one

of the rarest in Kansas, occurring only in the lower Maraisdes Cygnes River. The heavy specimens appear to be oldand well-worn. The shells are typically yellowish-brownwith wide, greenish rays. There are many fish hosts forthe Mucket. These include the Largemouth Bass,Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Orange-spottedSunfish, White Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie,Sauger and Tadpole Madtom. The female Mucket usuallyreleases her larval mussels (glochidia) in June.

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EllipseVenustaconcha ellipsiformis

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : As a full-grown mussel, the Ellipse is still

relatively small (3 inches). The straw-colored shell hasnumerous dark lines called rays that radiate from theumbo (the dorsally raised or inflated portion of the shell).It is a mussel of small, upland Ozark streams. It is foundin the Spring and Marmaton rivers in Kansas. The maleEllipse shell is narrower in height than the female. Thelarval form must attach to a host fish or perish. The fishhosts in Kansas are the Johnny Darter, OrangethroatDarter and probably the Banded Sculpin.

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ButterflyEllipsaria lineolata

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : A dazzling golden-yellow shell with dark

broken lines characterizes the freshwater mussel namedthe Butterfly. The overall shape resembles a restingbutterfly. The male is flatter than the female. The shellwas once valuable in the button industry. Butterflymussels reportedly are disappearing from many areaswhere they formerly were found. A few still inhabit thebest mussel sites of the Verdigris, Neosho and Marais desCygnes rivers. The fish hosts for the Butterfly representthree different families of native fish and includeFreshwater Drum, Green Sunfish and Sauger.

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Neosho MucketLampsilis rafinesqueana

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : EndangeredK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : The Neosho Mucket is found in the Fall,

Verdigris, Neosho and Spring rivers. It is one of thepredominant mussels in a short stretch of the SpringRiver but most of the specimens found in the other riversappear well-worn and old. The younger shells are oftenmarked with greenish rays and chevrons. The femaleNeosho Mucket waves a lure that imitates a small fish toattract its host fish. Only black bass (Largemouth,Smallmouth and Spotted) serve as the host for NeoshoMucket larvae, called glochidia, which the femalereleases in late spring. Sufficient numbers of bass may belacking in the lower Neosho, Fall and Verdigris rivers.Attempts to grow this mussel on hatchery bass and thenrestocking the juvenilemussels have provensuccessful andreintroduction efforts areunderway.

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Slender WalkerPomatiopsis lapidaria

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : The Slender Walker is a habitat specialist. It is

found only in one Atchison County marsh that is fed byartesian flows. Due to the rarity of this type of habitat inKansas, this snail is considered endangered. The closestknown colony is in Missouri. The isolated population isvulnerable to man-made and natural events such aspollution or severe droughts. This snail measures just 1/4inch in length and can live up to 2.5 years. The sex ratiois about three-fourths female. The Slender Walker isconsidered an amphibious snail and will lay eggs on wetsod. Its omnivorous diet consists of both plant andanimal matter. The quantity and quality of groundwateris critical to the continued existence of this organism. Itspresence is an indicationof healthy groundwaterconditions.

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Sharp HornsnailPleurocera acuta

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Sharp Hornsnail can be found in the lower

Marais des Cygnes River where it burrows in sandy or leaf-littered substrates. Dwelling under shallow, shelteredpools, this snail feeds on algae, diatoms and detritus. It wasdocumented in 1955 in the Walnut River. The sexes areseparate and reproduction occurs at approximately 2 yearsof age. Females lay eggs in spring in masses of various sizeand shape. Maximum life span is estimated to be 4 years.The shell of the Sharp Hornsnail is elongated and thick. Itcan measure over an inch in length, but is narrow indiameter (3/8 inch at widest). There are 9-11 whorlsmarked with a variable banded shell pattern. The SharpHornsnail is a gilled snail and cannot tolerate nutrientpollution that lowers theavailable oxygen supply inthe water.

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Delta HydrobeProbythinella emarginata

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Delta Hydrobe is a very small (<5mm

long) aquatic snail. Its small size and flattened apex makeit readily identifiable if found. The only two places inKansas where it is known are Cedar Creek in ChaseCounty and the Elk River in Montgomery County. It isapparent that the cool groundwater that enters these sitesprobably maintains high concentrations of dissolvedoxygen to support this snail. Most aquatic snails inKansas possess lung tissue (pulmonate) but the DeltaHydrobe is one of 5 known species of gilled(prosobranch) snail species known in Kansas. This snailis considered a Pleistocene relic that maintains itspopulation in spring-fed habitats. It is thought to be gonefrom Nebraska and considered rare in Iowa and Illinois.There is a population inMissouri that is about 200miles from the Kansaspopulations.

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Pallid SturgeonScaphirhynchus albus

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : EndangeredK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : This is a fish from an ancient lineage found in

the Missouri River along the Kansas-Missouri border. ThePallid Sturgeon closely resembles the ShovelnoseSturgeon. In fact, it is so genetically similar that the twowill cross to form hybrids. There are more fish in the dietof the Pallid Sturgeon and it probably utilizes a differenthabitat type than the Shovelnose Sturgeon. The PallidSturgeon is a long-lived fish and is known to reach 41years of age. The female will not spawn until she is 15-20years old and then only sporadically. The future of thePallid Sturgeon is questionable because of changes inhydrology and habitat changes that have occurred asrivers became regulated and engineered.

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Peppered ChubMacrhybopsis tetranema

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : The Peppered Chub is restricted to the upper

Arkansas River drainage, inhabiting shallow channelsover clean sand. This fish is gone from 90 percent of itsformer range and exists now in only two disjunctpopulations, one of which is in Kansas. The habitat forthis fish has been lost due to dewatering, pollution anddams that fragment long stretches of streams and inhibitdispersal. A relatively transparent-appearing fish withdark speckles on its back, it grows to 3 inches long. Twofleshy barbels at each corner of its mouth aid in touchand taste. Spawning occurs after a sharp rise in streamflow when water temperatures are above 70° F. The eggsdrift downstream with the strong current.

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Western Silvery MinnowHybognathus argyritis

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Western Silvery Minnow appears straw-

colored with yellowish-white or dull silvery sides. It is abig river minnow adapted to turbid water. It can reach 6inches in length and often forms schools of 50 to 100individuals along the silty bottom of deep, quiet water inthe Missouri River. It was formerly common behindstructures like wing dams and revetments. It resemblesthe plains minnow but possesses larger eyes and scales. Ithas declined in number and hasn’t been found in theKansas River for several decades. The Western SilveryMinnow may no longer have a reproductively viablepopulation in Kansas. In all probability, too many man-made alterations to the hydrology of the Missouri andlower Kansas rivers haveoccurred that weredetrimental to theWestern Silvery Minnow.

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Plains MinnowHybognathus placitus

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Plains Minnow has seen significant

population declines in Kansas in the last half century. It isnow a minor component of the fish assemblage in theRepublican, Smoky Hill and Arkansas rivers where it wasonce abundant in the 1950’s. It remains a significantportion of the fish fauna in the Cimarron River. Threatsare related to lack of water flow and flow rates that nolonger have the natural high and low extreme flows thisspecies needs in its life history. The Plains Minnow ispartly herbivorous and has a long gut and black-linedbody cavity. It feeds in schools near the bottom wheresediments accumulate onsandy substrates. Highflows during the summertrigger spawning and thesemi-buoyant eggs hatchas they are carrieddownstream where flowis more reliable. Few of these minnows live longer than 2years. The Plains Minnow has small eyes, thin lips andgrows to 5 inches but is otherwise relatively nondescript.

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Sturgeon ChubMacrhybopsis gelida

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Sturgeon Chub is well-adapted to large,

turbid rivers like the Missouri. These adaptations includesmall eyes and external sensory bumps (papillae) thathelp it locate food. A ventrally located mouth is well-adapted for taking invertebrates off the river bed. A shortgut reflects this staple diet of mostly aquatic insects thatare easily digestible. The Sturgeon Chub’s original rangewas reduced by nearly half due to changes in theMissouri River. This chub is relatively short-lived (4years) and does not reproduce until it reaches its secondyear. These fish are rarely seen or reported.

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Shoal ChubMacrhybopsis hyostoma

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Shoal Chub inhabits large low-gradient

streams where shallow riffles of shifting sand occur. Thisfish is adapted to waters of high turbidity and dissolvedsolids. The Shoal Chub is relatively small (2 ¾ inches)and has a short life. Few live longer than a year so mostreproduction is from year-old fish. The spawning seasonis long (May – August) and occurs after rainfall eventsincrease flow. The eggs develop as they driftdownstream. It can still be found on occasion in thelower Republican and Kansas rivers but the species isnow rare in these rivers where it was once consideredabundant. The Shoal Chub and the Peppered Chub wereonce considered the same species but taxonomists havesplit them into two species due to their morphologicaland genetic differences.

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Sicklefin ChubMacrhybopsis meeki

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : This fish gets its name from the sickle-shaped

dorsal fin. It inhabits deep, muddy waters of large riversand has very small eyes and pale coloration. A pair offleshy barbels at the corners of its mouth aid in findingfood. Like other big river fish, it has been on a seriousdecline because of changes due to impoundments,channelization and regulated flow. It has been reduced toabout half its global range and in Kansas is only found inthe Missouri River with occasional records from thelower Kansas River. Surveys on the upper Missourifound this species still reproducing where habitat isintact.

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Silver ChubMacrhybopsis storeriana

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : The Silver Chub is considered a big river chub

because it lives in large, sandy rivers. In Kansas, it’sfound in the lower Arkansas, Ninnescah and Missouririvers. Once common in the Kansas River, there are norecords since 1980. The large eyes and mouth barbels ofthe Silver Chub are adaptations for finding food by eithersight or smell in clear or turbid waters. The Silver Chublives on or near the bottom of the river where it feeds oninsects, plant seeds and small mollusks. In Lake Erie, it isknown to feed heavily on the exotic, invading zebramussel. Large reservoirs, predators and competition havecontributed to the decline of the Silver Chub. It can reach9 inches in length but most are 4-5 inches long.

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Redspot ChubNocomis asper

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Redspot Chub closely resembles the

Hornyhead Chub but occupies different drainages. InKansas, the Redspot Chub is found in the Spring Riverbasin while the Hornyhead Chub is found in the Maraisdes Cygnes River basin. Unlike the male Hornyhead Chubthat has tubercles only on its head, the Redspot Chub willalso develop them on its sides. The Red Spot behind theeye is prominent in the male and also present in adultfemales. Nests constructed by Redspot Chubs are also usedfor spawning by other species of fish such as the SouthernRedbelly Dace, Cardinal Shiner and Ozark Minnow. Thischub will reach 5-7 inches in length. This fish is restricted tosmall portions of southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma,northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri where itprimarily inhabits streams in the Ozark uplands.

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Hornyhead ChubNocomis biguttatus

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Hornyhead Chub gets its name from the

bumpy tubercles that form on the head of the maleduring breeding season. There is a red spot behind theeye and small barbels at the corners of the mouth thathelp identify this species. During the spring breedingseason the male constructs a mound of gravel that is 1-3feet in diameter and a few inches above the streambed.The male then excavates shallow pits in the moundwhere spawning occurs and the eggs are mixed throughthe mounded gravel. The 5-7 inch long male drives awayother male Hornyhead Chubs but other fish species aretolerated and will spawn at the same nest. TheHornyhead Chub is found near riffles in clear streamswith permanent flows. Its range was reduced due tointensive cultivation, siltation and intermittent flows. Itcan be found in a few tributaries of the Marais desCygnes River in Kansas.The Hornyhead Chubinhabits small streams inseveral States of theupper Midwest.

■ Hornyhead Chub

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Arkansas River ShinerNotropis girardi

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : ThreatenedK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : This small minnow only occurs in the

Arkansas River and its tributaries where it inhabits wide,shallow, sandy habitats. This fish will reach about 2.5inches in length and has a dark, chevron-shaped spot atthe base of the tail. It utilizes the downstream side of theflow-formed sand ridges and faces upstream to feed onfood items carried by the current. Spawning occursduring high summer flows and increased water turbidity.Due to dewatering and managed flow rates, this speciesis estimated to have disappeared from 80 percent of itsoriginal range. There have only been a few collections ofthe Arkansas River Shiner in Kansas since the 1980s. Itmight still occur in Kansas in the Cimarron River.

■ Arkansas River Shiner

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Topeka ShinerNotropis topeka

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : EndangeredK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The male Topeka Shiner has brilliant orange-

red fins and cheeks during spawning season. The small,chevron-shaped dark spot at the base of the tail is a goodidentifying mark. Topeka Shiners inhabit small tributarystreams primarily in the Flint Hills. These streams oftenquit flowing during droughts, and the Topeka Shiner hasadapted to these conditions by seeking refuge in spring-fed pools. The Topeka Shiner has the interesting behaviorof spawning in the nests of sunfish species, especially theGreen and Orange-spotted Sunfish. It is known from sixstates but is imperiled because it has disappeared fromnearly 80 percent of its former range. Pollution andhabitat alteration caused by impoundments and streamchannelization are blamed for the decline.

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Flathead ChubPlatygobio gracilis

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The decline of the Flathead Chub in the

Missouri River is well documented. In the 1940s, it madeup 31 percent of the seine catch. By the 1980s it droppedto just over one percent, and is now thought to be on theverge of extirpation from the Missouri River. Upstreamreservoirs and changes in river hydrology altered peakflows and turbidity to the detriment of the FlatheadChub. As this population declined, the population of asight-feeding minnow, the Emerald Shiner, increased innumbers. The Flathead Chub relies more on externaltaste buds than eyesight to find its food. Terrestrialinsects make up the majority of its diet. This chub canreach a foot in length and has a distinctly flattened snoutand two short, fleshy barbels at the corners of its mouth.Its lifespan is 3-4 years.

■ Flathead Chub

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Neosho MadtomNoturus placidus

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : ThreatenedK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Neosho Madtom occurs only in the

Cottonwood, Neosho and Spring rivers. It is a smallmember of the catfish family that lives in loose, cleangravel where there is noticeable flow. Gravel dredgingfrom the riverbed of the Neosho River is restricted toconserve this habitat for the Neosho Madtom. It hidesduring the day and is most active in the hours followingsundown as it searches for insect larvae of caddisflies,mayflies and midges. The Neosho Madtom will grow tobe 3 inches in length and has a 2-3 year lifespan. Annualsurveys are conducted at several riffle sites along theNeosho and Spring rivers to monitor the population ofthis fish. It is believed that early summer high flows arenecessary for successful spawning, which do not occur asoften since impoundments were built on the Cottonwoodand Neosho rivers. Beware of the sharp, pectoral spineson this small catfish and their associated venom that helpprotect it from largerpredators.

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Arkansas DarterEtheostoma cragini

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : Candidate for ListingK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Arkansas Darter is restricted to the

greater Arkansas River drainage. It is found in clear,spring-fed streams with aquatic vegetation. Theseshallow-water habitats without strong current are alsogood places to find watercress, a vegetative cover thatprovides the Arkansas Darter hiding places frompredators. The Arkansas Darter will dive head first intothe muddy substrate when frightened and remain hiddenby the cloud of silt suspended in the water. Spawningoccurs in early spring when the male is brightly coloredwith an orange-red belly. Although this darter will live 3years, most of the spawning population is in its first year.Depletion of groundwater, which results in streams goingdry, is one of the major causes for the decline of theArkansas Darter. It is found in Kansas in the Spring Riverbasin in the southeast corner of the state and severaltributaries of the Arkansas River in southcentral Kansas.

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Blackside DarterPercina maculata

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Blackside Darter has a very restricted and

isolated population in Kansas making it vulnerable toextirpation. Man-made or natural events such aspollution spills or severe droughts pose threats. Itinhabits shallow pools with gravel substrates in the clearwaters of Mill Creek in Wabaunsee County. The BlacksideDarter is not as restricted to the streambed as other smalldarters. As flows are reduced, it swims higher in thewater column and even rises to the surface to capturefood. Darters are members of the perch family whichinclude the Sauger and Walleye.

■ Blackside Darter

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Eastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Eastern Newt has a natural range

covering most of eastern North America. Kansas is on thewestern edge of this range and it occurs only in a few ofthe extreme eastern counties. This salamander has anintriguing life history that begins aquatic, becomesterrestrial, and then returns to an aquatic existence. Thelarva begins its aquatic life in a woodland pond, marshor slough. The terrestrial existence (known as the eftstage) may last from one to several years. At this stage, itis brightly colored red-orange which is useful in warningpredators of its toxic and irritating skin secretions. Afterthe eft stage is completed the salamander returns to thewater permanently as an adult. Sometimes the eft stage isskipped and the newt remains in the water as an aquaticsubadult with remnants of the larval gill still visible. TheEastern Newt does not have the distinct verticalindentations (costalgrooves) between thefront and back legs thatare found on otherKansas salamanders.

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Longtail SalamanderEurycea longicauda

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Longtail Salamander can reach over 7

inches in length and has a tail longer than its body. It hasa broad dorsal stripe that is lightly colored and speckledwith dark markings. There are 14 or fewer vertical folds(costal grooves) along the side of the body. The LongtailSalamander lives in or under rotting logs, neargroundwater seepage sites and under rocks alongstreams, especially in or near caves. It has been reportedat Schermerhorn Cave in Cherokee County. Thissalamander is more likely to be found on land than inwater. The males have swollen snouts during breedingseason. The female produces one clutch of eggs each yearthat she deposits in a single row under submerged rocks.The larva is gilled and remains aquatic until transformingto the adult stage.

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Cave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : Inhabiting the twilight zone of limestone

caves or nearby spring-fed streams, the striking orange-yellow Cave Salamander is a unique component of ourKansas natural heritage. This type of habitat is itself rarein Kansas. It is found in the cave at Schermerhorn Park inCherokee County, either inside the cave or near theentrance under logs or rocks. The Cave Salamander is agood climber and uses its long, prehensile tail to helpclimb cave walls in search of invertebrates. It ranges fromVirginia to Oklahoma and can be found in 12 states.

■ Cave Salamander

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Grotto SalamanderEurycea spelaea

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : The Grotto Salamander is sometimes called

the “ghost lizard” of Ozark caves. This amphibian hastwo life stages. The 2-3 year larval stage has gills, tailfinsand functional eyes. It forages in spring-fed streamsoutside of caves. The immature salamander has flecks ofyellow on a purplish-gray body. The adult stage doesn’thave gills, tail fins or coloration and resides deep insidecaves. Eyesight is of no value deep inside caverns and theeyes of the larval stage are no longer functional in adults.These vestigial eyes appear as dark spots with fused orpartially fused eyelids. The adult hunts blind crustaceansand other invertebrates that are detected by its sensitiveskin. The Grotto Salamander only occurs in Kansas inCherokee County in or near cave habitats.

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Green ToadAnaxyrus debilis

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : This High Plains toad is found in open

grasslands in several western Kansas counties whereaverage annual rainfall is low. If surface wateraccumulates from rainfall in spring or summer, the GreenToad quickly utilizes it for breeding. To compensate forsporadic rains, the Green Toad is an opportunisticbreeder and sometimes breeds in stock tanks. The GreenToad is one of the smallest and most colorful toads inKansas. It measures less than 2 inches in length.

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Strecker’s Chorus FrogPseudacris streckeri

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Strecker’s Chorus Frog inhabits the Red

Hills in Barber and Harper counties. The chorusing callsof this frog occur in pools during the breeding seasonfrom February through March. Reproductive success intemporary pools used for breeding sites is often highbecause these habitats have no predatory fish. A femaleattaches small clumps of eggs to aquatic plants andtwigs. The Strecker’s Chorus Frog is the largest andchunkiest of our chorus frogs. There is a dark line fromsnout to shoulder that sometimes continues along theside as spots. There is a dark spot below the eye in mostspecimens. Its call is a single note, clear and bell-like intone, that is quickly repeated. A chorus is said to soundlike a rapidly turning wheel in dire need of grease. It wasnamed after the noted Baylor University naturalist, JohnK. Strecker.

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Green FrogLithobates clamitans

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Green Frog is widely distributed across

the eastern United States. In Kansas, it can be seen orheard in permanent pools or streams in the OzarkPlateau Region. The Green Frog resembles the morecommon bullfrog in coloration. However, the Green Froghas raised dorsolateral lines extending from behind theeye along its sides. Its call is peculiar and has beendescribed as sounding similar to the twang of a loosebanjo string. It deposits masses of eggs that float at thewater surface. The young take 2-3 years to mature intoadults capable of breeding. Occasionally, Green Frogslack yellow pigment and appear to be blue.

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Eastern Narrowmouth ToadGastrophryne carolinensis

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Eastern Narrowmouth Toad is similar to

the more common Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad. Bothhave a distinctive fold of skin behind their eyes and aresimilar in size. The Eastern Narrowmouth Toad is morespotted and mottled than the Great Plains NarrowmouthToad. The Eastern Narrowmouth is considered awoodland toad while the Great Plains NarrowmouthToad is a grassland dweller. Both species are found inhabitats where east meets west to form a natural rangeoverlap from the Gulf Coast north to extreme southeastKansas. Both narrowmouth toads feed on ants. This toadseeks shallow rain pools for spring breeding where itcalls from the water’s edge with its head protrudingabove the surface. The call of the Eastern NarrowmouthToad sounds similar to a bawling lamb.

■ Eastern Narrowmouth Toad

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Northern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : This turtle was formerly named the Common

Map Turtle. In Kansas, it is not common but rather isdocumented only in portions of the Neosho, Verdigrisand Marais des Cygnes river drainages. The female has alarge head with muscular jaws and a bony pad on theroof of her mouth for crushing mussel shells. The malehas a smaller head and body. A small yellow spot behindthe eye with a vertical light line between it and the eyeseparate this turtle from other Kansas map turtles. TheNorthern Map Turtle is shy and retiring and seldom seen.

■ Northern Map Turtle

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Broadhead SkinkEumeces laticeps

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : This is the largest Kansas skink and can

exceed 10 inches. During the breeding season the malehas an unmistakable orange-red head which contrastswith his tan body. Outside of its breeding season theBroadhead Skink closely resembles the more commonFive-Lined Skink and only close examination of scalepatterns can differentiate the two. The Broadhead Skinkis an adept climber and will occupy tree cavities orwoodpecker holes. It is often found in woodland habitatnear a water source in extreme eastern Kansas counties.

■ Broadhead Skink

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New Mexico ThreadsnakeRena dissectus

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : This snake was formerly called the Texas

Blind Snake. Resembling an earthworm, this 5-8 inchlong snake has a pink-purplish cast and belly scalessimilar in size to those on its back. The New MexicoThreadsnake is unique because its body shape makes itdifficult to discern its head from its tail. Closerexamination reveals vestigial eyes as small dark spots.Being blind, this snake spends the majority of its lifeunderground hunting and feeding on termites and anteggs or larvae. By releasing a repellent from its vent, thenwrithing to spread the chemical over its body, it can theninvade ant nests without being attacked. The NewMexico Threadsnake can follow the trail of ants by usingits sense of smell. Occasionally, it’s found wanderingabove ground early in the evening. This snake has beendocumented in Kansasalong some of thesouthern tier counties ofsouthcentral andsouthwest Kansas.

■ New Mexico Threadsnake

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Checkered Garter SnakeThamnophis marcianus

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The unique checkerboard pattern on the

Checkered Garter Snake separates it from the typicallined pattern of other garter snakes. Look for the creamor yellow crescent behind the jaw to confirm identity ofthis snake. The Checkered Garter Snake is more likely tobe active at night than other garter snakes. This snakegives birth to 6-18 live young in June or July measuring9-10 inches long. The Checkered Garter Snake is found inopen grassland habitats near water. It occurs in Kansasfrom the southcentral region west to the Colorado border.

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Whooping CraneGrus americana

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : EndangeredK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : Likely the most well-known endangered bird

in North America, the Whooping Crane was nearlyextinct. In 1941, only 16 birds made the semiannualmigration between Canada and Aransas NationalWildlife Refuge in Texas. Through intensive conservationefforts, this number grew to 43 by 1966 and just over 300individuals in 2014. There were 82 documented nests in2014 at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada. There isalso a flock established in Wisconsin that migrates toFlorida. Whooping Cranes can live for 25 years in thewild and will lay 1-3 eggs per nest. The population isclosely monitored on breeding grounds, winteringgrounds and in migration by wildlife officials. WhoopingCranes occur over central Kansas during migration andare often seen near Cheyenne Bottoms or QuiviraNational Wildlife Refuge. For many Kansans, spotting aWhooping Crane is asighting of a lifetime.

■ Whooping Crane

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Snowy PloverCharadrius alexandrinus

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The gray legs and thin, dark bill help

distinguish the Snowy Plover from other plovers. It iseasily observed along the Wildlife Drive at QuiviraNational Wildlife Refuge where it nests along theroadways or on nearby salt flats in late spring. It is palein color and would go unnoticed if it didn’t dart about asit forages for invertebrates. Three eggs are typically laidin shallow scrapes marked with twigs or debris and mostbirds return to the site of the previous year’s nest. Inwestern continental populations, the female abandons theyoung after about 6 days and the male provides care for4-6 weeks. The female then attempts a second nest with anew mate. In Kansas, both adults tend the young and justone brood is attempted unless the nest is destroyed. Themajor threats to the Snowy Plover are dewatering, loss ofwetland habitats andhuman disturbance atnest sites.

■ Snowy Plover

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Piping PloverCharadrius melodusF e d e r a l S t a t u s : ThreatenedK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : The Piping Plover is named for its clear,

melodious “peep-peep-peeplo” call. The majority ofnesting habitat for this bird in Kansas is on sandbarsalong the Kansas River. It usually lays 4 eggs in a shallowdepression in the sand. The eggs are spotted and blendinto the sandy background. Sand bars become toovegetated over time for suitable nest sites unlessoccasional floods scour them bare. The Piping Plover iswell-camouflaged and difficult to see until it runs andstops in search of invertebrates. Like the more commonKilldeer, the Piping Plover feigns injury to lure predatorsaway from its nest or chicks. Mated pairs often staytogether for 2-3 years and return to the same sandbarthey previously occupied if the habitat remains suitable.Piping Plovers can live up to 14 years.

■ Piping Plover

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Eskimo CurlewNumenius borealis

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : EndangeredK a n s a s S t a t u s : None (no viable population)C o m m e n t s : The demise of this bird is a sad chapter in

natural history. The lesson from the Eskimo Curlew issimply that species considered common and numerouscan become extinct or rare in a very short time span. TheEskimo Curlew population crash mirrors the PassengerPigeon. Both were abundant but neither could withstandthe human pressures of habitat change and unregulatedmarket hunting of the late 1800s. Eskimo Curlewstraveled across Kansas in huge flocks during springmigration. One report from Nebraska estimated a restingmigratory flock covered 40-50 acres. The last year aspecimen was collected from Kansas was 1891, and thelast year it was sold by market gunners in Kansas was1902. The Eskimo Curlew was thought to be totally goneby 1940 but occasionalsightings since then havekept it from beingdeclared extinct.

■ Eskimo Curlew

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Least TernSterna antillarum

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : EndangeredK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : Lewis and Clark mentioned the Least Tern as

they moved up the Missouri River on their keel boats. In thelate 1800s, this bird was slaughtered for the millinery marketas its feathers were used to adorn ladies hats. The Least Ternrequires open, bare areas near water for nesting, such assand bars along rivers, salt flats and even artificially clearedsites adjacent to rivers. Impoundments, channelization, riverflow manipulation, beach development and humandisturbance are all causes for the more recent decline of thisbird whose numbers dropped 80 percent between the 1940sand 1970s. For sand bar habitat to remain suitable, occasionalscouring by high water needs to occur to remove thevegetation that inhibits nesting. In Kansas, these birds arefrequently seen at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, alongthe Kansas River and the Arkansas River near Wichita. LeastTerns also nest at a fly ash disposal area at the Jeffrey EnergyCenter northwest of Topeka, which is managed by WestarEnergy to accomodate the birds. Efforts are being made inthese areas to maintainnesting habitat and nestingsuccess through water levelmanagement, predatormanagement and areduction in humandisturbance.

■ Least Tern

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Lesser Prairie-ChickenTympanuchus pallidicinctus

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : ThreatenedK a n s a s S t a t u s : None C o m m e n t s : The Lesser Prairie-Chicken is a species of

prairie grouse endemic to the southern Great Plains,commonly recognized for its feathered tarsi (feet),ground dwelling habits, and lek mating behavior. Whilesmaller in size, this species closely resembles the GreaterPrairie-Chicken also found in the state. Lesser males caneasily be identified during courtship displays by thelong, erect pinnae feathers on the sides of their necks,bright yellow supraorbital eyecombs, and reddishesophageal air sacs. Their preferred habitat is that ofopen native short- and mixed-grass prairies. The LesserPrairie-Chicken range has been reduced by 84 percentprimarily due to habitat fragmentation and recentlyfurther stressed due to drought, loss of ConservationReserve Program acreage, and energy development. Thisspecies was federally listed as Threatened in 2014. Thereare numerous conservation efforts underway to recoverthe Lesser Prairie-Chickenand currently no criticalhabitat has beendesignated for this species.

■ Lesser Prairie-Chicken

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Black-capped VireoVireo atricapilla

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : EndangeredK a n s a s S t a t u s : None C o m m e n t s : The Black-capped Vireo has not been

confirmed in Kansas since 1953. However, it once nestedin the Red Hills and was considered common inComanche County by N. S. Goss in the “History of theBirds of Kansas,” published in 1891. This rare bird ismore likely found further south in low, brushy countrywith deep ravines, scrub oak ridges or chaparral in Texasor Oklahoma. The Black-capped Vireo suspends its nest2-15 feet high in forked branches of a plum, dogwood orsmall oak. Like the Bell’s Vireo, the Black-capped Vireo isknown to suffer a high incidence of nest parasitism fromthe Brown-headed Cowbird. One of the managementstrategies to increase nest success is to trap and removecowbirds. In an effort to confirm this bird in Kansas,there have been many birder expeditions to the Red Hillsin recent years and allhave failed to documentthe presence of the Black-capped Vireo.

■ Black-capped Vireo

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Red KnotCalidris canutus rufa

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : ThreatenedK a n s a s S t a t u s : NoneC o m m e n t s : The Red Knot is a remarkable bird known to

migrate thousands of miles a year from the CanadianArctic to their southern wintering range. Considered tobe a rare spring and fall transient in Kansas, Red Knotscan be spotted using key stopover areas at QuiviraNational Wildlife Refuge as well as Cheyenne BottomsState Wildlife Area in Kansas. It’s easily identified duringthe breeding season by the distinctive red plumage onthe face, prominent stripe above the eye, breast, andupper belly. Both males and females are similar in color,though the red color is less intense on the female. Theoldest recorded Red Knot was at least 21 years old whenit was last sighted in spring 2014. The federal listing ruleof this species became effective January 12, 2015.

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Gray MyotisMyotis grisescens

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : EndangeredK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : The Gray Myotis is a cave-dwelling bat that

found a summer home in the storm water drainage systemof Pittsburg, Kansas where an estimated 2,000-3,000individuals live. In addition, about 100 females use thesetunnels as a nursery site. The bats feed on flying insectsover water and follow riparian woodland corridors to getto foraging sites. The summer haunts are at differentlocales than the winter hibernation caves. Some of thesummer resident Gray Myotis from Pittsburg were bandedand found hibernating during winter months in caves ofnorthwest Arkansas. This bat hibernates in clusters withdensities that average 170 bats per square foot. The GrayMyotis is known to live as long as 14-15 years. Commonthreats to bats include loss of habitat, pesticide residues,human disturbance and more recently a disease known aswhite-nose syndrome. Researchers have documenteddeclines greater than 60percent in Gray Myotispopulations in Tennessee,Kentucky, Alabama,Missouri and Arkansas.

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Black-footed FerretMustela nigripes

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : EndangeredK a n s a s S t a t u s : EndangeredC o m m e n t s : The Black-footed Ferret is considered the most

endangered mammal in North America. In the distantpast, it was highly regarded by the Plains Indians andused in headdresses during religious ceremonies. About90 percent of this predator’s diet consists of prairie dogs.Prairie dogs have declined greatly and now inhabit only1.5 million of the 700 million acres they once occupied.As prairie dog colonies shrank in size and number, Black-footed Ferrets have suffered local extirpations and thespecies was even thought to be extinct until beingrediscovered in Wyoming. Researchers have found ferretswill travel a maximum distance of 4.3 miles in a night. Ifprairie dog colonies are not nearby, ferrets becomeisolated, suffer from inbreeding and become even morevulnerable to diseases. Reintroductions have occurred inLogan County since 2007and semi-annual surveyestimates of thepopulation have variedfrom 5–106.

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Eastern Spotted SkunkSpilogale putorius

F e d e r a l S t a t u s : NoneK a n s a s S t a t u s : ThreatenedC o m m e n t s : This skunk is adept at climbing trees and

some old timers refer to it as the civet cat. The small,diversified farms common in the early to mid-1900sfavored the Eastern Spotted Skunk. These farms oftenhad poultry, corncribs, brushy fencerows and haystacks,making it easy for the Eastern Spotted Skunk to findmice, eggs, fruit, grain or carrion. Agriculture haschanged dramatically, and small farms have nearlyvanished along with the Eastern Spotted Skunk. Between1928-1934, 93,216 to 117,309 Eastern Spotted Skunk peltswere purchased annually by Kansas fur buyers. Thisnumber declined to less than 1,000 pelts bought annuallyby 1955. Pesticides like DDT may have also played a rolein the long-term decline of this mammal. Even thoughthe Striped Skunk is common, the Eastern Spotted Skunkis rarely seen. Its blacktail with a white tip,elongated white spots onits back and white spoton its foreheaddistinguish it from theStriped Skunk.

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The Bald EagleSuccess Story

On August 9, 2007 theBald Eagle was removedfrom the federal list ofthreatened andendangered species. Afterdisappearing from most ofits range decades ago, theBald Eagle now flourishesacross the United Statesand no longer needs theprotection of theEndangered Species Act.

However, the Bald Eagle is still protected by the Bald andGolden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The nation’s symbol, the Bald Eagle was in danger ofextinction throughout most the lower 48 states due to habitatdegradation and destruction, illegal shooting, andcontamination of its food source as a result of the use of thepesticide DDT. Three main factors led to the recovery of thebald eagle; 1) the Endangered Species Act provided protectionof eagle habitat including nesting sites, feeding and roost sites,2) the federal government banned the use of DDT, 3) theconservation efforts of the American people.

In order to ensure the conservation of Bald Eagles, theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlifeagencies developed a “Post-delisting Monitoring Plan for theBald Eagle in the Contiguous 48 States.” This monitoring effortcompiles data from across the United States and further aids inthe determination of whether or not the Bald Eagle will need tobe re-listed.

The first known Bald Eagle nesting pair in Kansas wasdocumented in 1989. Since then, their numbers have steadilyincreased. In 2014, Kansas Bald Eagle nest surveys reported 83active nests. The return of the Bald Eagle is a true success storyfor us all.

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Species In Need of Conservation (SINC)In addition to threatened and endangered species lists,

Kansas maintains a third list known as Species In Need ofConservation (SINC). This is a list of declining or rare animalsthat have populations of concern or require more study priorto listing as either threatened or endangered. The sameprocedure used to place a species on the threatened orendangered list is used for the SINC listing. Recovery planscan be written and implemented for SINC species in an effortto keep them from declining to a more serious level. Sightingreports for SINC species are continually collected and enteredinto a database to help monitor the status of their populations.

Kansas Species In Need of Conservation (SINC)

I n s e c t sGray Petaltail (Tachopteryx thoreyi)

dragonfly Neosho Midget Crayfish (Orconectes

macrus)Ozark Emerald (Somatochlora

ozarkensis) dragonfly Prairie Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa

major)

U n i o n i d M u s s e l sCreeper (Strophitus undulatus)Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides

ferussacianus)Deertoe (Truncilla truncata)Fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea)Fawnsfoot (Truncilla donaciformis)Round Pigtoe (Pleurobema sintoxia)Snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra)Spike (Elliptio dilatata) musselWabash Pigtoe (Fusconaia flava)Wartyback (Quadrula nodulata)Washboard (Megalonaias nervosa)Yellow Sandshell (Lampsilis teres)

F i s hBanded Darter (Etheostoma zonale) Banded Sculpin (Cottus carolinae) Bigeye Shiner (Notropis boops)

Black Redhorse (Moxostomaduquesnei)

Blue Sucker (Cycleptus elongatus)Bluntnose Darter (Etheostoma

chlorosoma)Brassy Minnow (Hybognathus

hankinsoni) Brindled Madtom (Noturus miurus) Cardinal Shiner (Luxilus cardinalis)Chestnut Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon

castaneus)Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus)Gravel Chub (Erimystax x-punctatus) Greenside Darter (Etheostoma

blennioides) Highfin Carpsucker (Carpiodes

velifer)Highland Darter, (Etheostoma

teddyroosevelt)Johnny Darter (Etheostoma nigrum)Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)Northern Hog Sucker (Hypentelium

nigricans)Ozark Minnow (Notropis nubilus)Redfin Darter (Etheostoma whipplei)River Darter (Percina shumardi)River Redhorse (Moxostoma

carinatum)River Shiner (Notropis blennius)

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Silverband Shiner (Notropisshumardi)

Slough Darter (Etheostoma gracile)Southern Redbelly Dace (Chrosomus

erythrogaster)Spotfin Shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera) Spotted Sucker (Minytrema

melanops)Striped Shiner (Luxilus

chrysocephalus) Sunburst Darter (Etheostoma

mihileze) Tadpole Madtom (Noturus gyrinus)Western Blacknose Dace

(Rhinichthys obtusus)

A m p h i b i a n sCrawfish Frog (Lithobates areolata)Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus

punctatus)Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

R e p t i l e sChihuahuan Nightsnake

(Hypsiglena jani)Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon

platirhinos)Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans)Longnose Snake (Rhinocheilus

lecontei)Redbelly Snake (Storeria

occipitomaculata)Rough Earth Snake (Virginia

striatula)Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia

valeriae)Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus

horridus) Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon

nasicus)

Tu r t l e sAlligator Snapping Turtle

(Macrochelys temminckii)

B i r d sBlack Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus

cryptoleucus) Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma

curvirostre)Eastern Whip-poor-will

(Antrostomas vociferus)Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus

henslowii) Ladder-backed Woodpecker

(Picoides scalaris) Long-billed Curlew (Numenius

americanus) Mountain Plover (Charadrius

montanus)Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga

dominica)

M a m m a l sFranklin’s Ground Squirrel

(Poliocitellus franklinii)Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis

septentrionalis)Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus)Southern Bog Lemming

(Synaptomys cooperi) Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys

volans) Texas Mouse (Peromyscus attwateri) Townsend’s Big-eared Bat

(Corynorhinus townsendii)

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AcknowledgementsWe thank Jim Mason (Great Plains Nature Center) for

preparing the range maps, Marc Murrell, Jim Mason and Lorrie Beck(Great Plains Nature Center) for editing the text, Dan Mulhern(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), Bill Busby and Craig Freeman(Kansas Biological Survey) for reviewing the text.

—Edwin Miller, Bob Gress & Chris Berens

The following photographers graciously allowed the use of theirphotographs to advance the public understanding of Kansas threatenedand endangered species: Richard T. Bryant, Suzanne L. Collins, SteveCringan, Kyle Gerstner, Bob Gress, Paul Harmon, John MacGregor,Edwin J. Miller, Nebraska Game and Parks, David Ostendorf, KonradSchmidt, Ryan Waters, Greg Sievert and Garold Sneegas.

This publication would not be possible without the support of thesesponsors.

© 2015 Great Plains Nature Center3rd printing March 2015

Chickadee Checkoff

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Pocket Guides Jim Mason, Editor

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Single copies of these Pocket Guides may be picked up free at theGreat Plains Nature Center. Copies can be mailed for $3.00 each bysending your check, payable to GPNC, to: Pocket Guides, GreatPlains Nature Center, 6232 East 29th Street North, Wichita, KS 67220.

Great Plains Nature CenterThe Great Plains Nature Center is a cooperative project

between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, KansasDepartment of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, and the City ofWichita Department of Park and Recreation. The NatureCenter features the Koch Habitat Hall, Owl’s Nest gift shop,Coleman Auditorium, and 2 miles of Chisholm Creek Parknature trails. The Friends of the Great Plains Nature Centeris a support organization formed to increase awareness andhelp sustain the Center's environmental educationprograms, organize and promote special events, recruitvolunteers to assist staff, and raise funds for long-termviability. For more information visit the Great Plains NatureCenter web site at www.gpnc.org. Please visit or contact usat Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 East 29th Street North,Wichita, KS 67220 or phone us at 316-683-5499.

Green Team membersvolunteer hours to improvewildlife habitat throughwetland creation andrestoration and native grassand tree planting. They buildbridges and trails and work toprotect and reintroducesensitive plant and animalspecies. The Green Team canbe contacted at 785-575-8125or at Ben.Postlethwait@Westarenergy.com.

The Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy is

the leading conservationorganization working aroundthe world to protectecologically important landsand waters for nature andpeople. Our effective andpragmatic solutions haveenabled The NatureConservancy to protect morethan 119 million acresworldwide. In Kansas, theConservancy has acquired andmanages more than 46,000acres of biologically rich anddiverse habitat. For moreinformation, contact TheNature Conservancy in Kansasat 785-233-4400, by email atkansas@tnc.org or visit ourwebsite at www.nature.org/kansas.

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Chickadee CheckoffThe Chickadee Checkoff

program is a voluntarydonation program fornongame projects sponsoredby the Kansas Department ofWildlife, Parks and Tourism.Kansas taxpayers are able tocontribute on their individualstate income tax form.Donations can also be madeby sending a check toChickadee Checkoff Program,512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS67124. Since 1980, theChickadee Checkoff programhas distributed over $4 millionto projects that helpendangered species, assist inreintroduction efforts ofsensitive species, supportswildlife education projects atschools and nature centers,and supports hundreds ofother nongame conservationprojects.

Westar EnergyGreen Team

Westar Energy, Inc. is thelargest utility in Kansas servingnearly 700,000 customers withabout 35,000 miles oftransmission and distributionlines. Since 1989, theiremployees have operated anenvironmental team. The

Chris Berens is an Ecologist for Kansas Department of Wildlife,Parks and Tourism.

Edwin J. Miller is the Endangered Species Program Coordinator forthe Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.

Bob Gress is a wildlife photographer and was Director of the GreatPlains Nature Center from 1996-2012.