Prairie

by Candace Savage

  chokecherry, Prunus virginiana

  claret cup, Echinocereus triglochidiatus

  clear-winged grasshopper, Camnula pellucida

  collared peccary, Pecari tajacu

  common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula

  common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula

  common merganser, Mergus merganser

  common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor

  concho water snake, Nerodia paucimaculata

  coontail, Ceratophyllum demersum

  cougar, Puma concolor

  coyote, Canis latrans

  creosote bush, Larrea tridentata

  crested wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum

  Culver’s root, Veronicastrum virginicum

  curly dock, Rumex crispus

  deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus

  dickcissel, Spiza americana

  Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii

  downy woodpecker, Picoides pubescens

  dunes sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus arenicolus

  eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

  eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis

  eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus

  eastern meadowlark, Sturnella magna

  eastern red bat, Lasiurus borealis

  eastern red cedar, Juniperus virginiana

  eastern screech-owl, Megascops asio

  eastern spotted skunk, Spilogale putorius

  eastern towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus

  eastern wood-pewee, Contopus virens

  eastern woodrat, Neotoma floridana

  Edwards’ hairstreak butterfly, Satyrium edwardsii

  Engelmann spruce, Picea engelmannii

  English grain aphid, Macrosiphum avenae

  European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis

  European starling, Sturnus vulgaris

  ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis

  flathead chub, Platygobio gracilis

  flat-topped aster, Doellingeria umbellata

  fox squirrel, Sciurus niger

  Franklin’s ground squirrel,

  Spermophilus franklinii

  fringed sagewort, Artemisia frigida

  gadwall, Anas strepera

  galleta, Pleuraphis jamesii

  giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida

  golden bean, Thermopsis rhombifolia

  golden-cheeked warbler, Dendroica chrysoparia

  golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos

  golden-fronted woodpecker, Melanerpes aurifrons

  grasshopper sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum

  gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis

  gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus

  great blue heron, Ardea herodias

  great crested flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus

  greater prairie chicken, Tympanuchus cupido

  greater sage grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus

  greater short-horned lizard, Phrynosoma hernandesi

  great horned owl, Bubo virginianus

  Great Plains toad, Bufo cognatus

  green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica

  green needlegrass, Nassella viridula

  green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus

  green-winged teal, Anas crecca

  grizzly bear, Ursus arctos

  gumbo evening primrose, Oenothera caespitosa

  harebell, Campanula rotundifolia

  Harris’ checkerspot butterfly, Chlosyne harrisii

  Henslow’s sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii

  Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor

  honey bee, Apis mellifera

  honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa

  horned lark, Eremophila alpestris

  hornyhead chub, Nocomis biguttatus

  house sparrow, Passer domesticus

  house wren, Troglodytes aedon

  Indian grass, Sorghastrum nutans

  Indian paintbrush, Castilleja indivisa

  indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea

  javelina, Pecari tajacu

  johnnydarter, Etheostoma nigrum

  jumping cactus, Opuntia fragilis

  June grass, Koeleria macrantha

  Kentucky blue grass, Poa pratensis

  kestrel. See American kestrel

  killdeer, Charadrius vociferus

  lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens

  lance-leafed psoralea (scurfpea), Psoralidium lanceolatum

  largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides

  lark bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys

  lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena

  leadplant, Amorpha canescens

  leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula

  leafy spurge hawkmoth, Hyles euphorbiae

  LeConte’s sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii

  lesser migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes

  lesser prairie chicken, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus

  lesser scaup, Aythya affinis

  lesser snow goose, Chen caerulescens

  little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium

  long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus

  mallard, Anas platyrhynchos

  Manitoba maple, Acer negundo

  marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa

  marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris

  McCown’s longspur, Calcarius mccownii

  merlin, Falco columbarius

  Mexican ground squirrel, Spermophilus mexicanus

  Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis

  Missouri milk vetch, Astragalus missouriensis

  monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus

  moose, Alces alces

  Mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex

  mound hedgehog-cactus, Echinocereus triglochidiatus

  mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides

  mountain plover, Charadrius montanus

  mourning dove, Zenaida macroura

  mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus

  muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus

  narrowleaf cottonwood, Populus angustifolia

  narrow-leaved puccoon, Lithospermum incisum

  needle-and-thread grass, Stipa comata

  Nelson’s sharp-tailed sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni

  neosho madtom, Noturus placidus

  nighthawk. See common nighthawk

  nodding beggar-ticks, Bidens cernua

  nodding onion, Allium cernuum

  northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis

  northern flicker, Colaptes auratus

  northern grasshopper mouse, Onychomys leucogaster

  northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens

  northern pike, Esox lucius

  northern pintail, Anas acuta

  northern raccoon, Procyon lotor

  northern shoveler, Anas clypeata

  northwest poplar, Populus deltoides x Populus balsamifera

  Nuttall’s blister beetle, Lytta nuttalli

  Nuttall’s cottontail, Sylvilagus nuttallii

  olive-backed pocket mouse, Perognathus fasciatus

  Ord’s kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii

  ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata

  otter, Lutra canadensis

  ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus

  paddlefish, Polyodon spathula

  painted lady butterfly, Vanessa cardui

  painted turtle, Chrysemys picta

  pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus

  paper birch, Betula papyrifera

  partridge pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata

  pasque flower, Pulsatilla patens

  pasture sage, Artemisia frigida

  pasture worm, Aporrectodea turgida

  pincushion cactus, Escobaria vivipara

  pink smartweed, Polygonum amphibium

  piping plover, Charadrius melodus

  plain pocketbook mussel, Lampsilis cardium

  plains bison. See bison

  plains cottonwood, Populus deltoides

  plains pocket gopher, Geomys bursarius

  plains prickly pear cactus, Opuntia polyacantha

  plains spadefoot toad, Spea bombifrons

  plains wolf. See wolf


  pocket gopher. See plains pocket gopher

  ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa

  porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum

  prairie crocus, Pulsatilla patens

  prairie dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis

  prairie gopher, Spermophilus richardsonii

  prairie rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis

  prairie rose, Rosa arkansana

  prairie sage, Artemisia ludoviciana

  prairie skink, Eumeces septentrionalis

  prairie smoke, Geum triflorum

  prairie sunflower, Helianthus petiolaris

  prairie three-awn, Aristida oligantha

  pronghorn, Antilocapra americana

  purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea

  purple prairie clover, Dalea purpurea

  quackgrass, Elytrigia repens

  quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides

  red bat. See eastern red bat

  red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus

  red fox, Vulpes vulpes

  redhead, Aythya americana

  red-shafted flicker, Colaptes auratus

  red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis

  red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus

  regal fritillary butterfly, Speyeria idalia

  Richardson’s ground squirrel, Spermophilus richardsonii

  ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris

  ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

  Rocky Mountain locust, Melanoplus spretus

  rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus

  rough fescue, Festuca hallii, F. scrabella,

  F. campestris complex

  ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis

  ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus

  Russian olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia

  Russian thistle, Salsola tragus

  Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia

  sago pondweed, Potamogeton pectinatus

  salt cedar, Tamarix ramosissima

  sand bluestem, Andropogon hallii

  sand dropseed, Sporobolus cryptandrus

  sand sage, Artemisia filifolia

  sandhill crane, Grus canadensis

  sand reedgrass, Calamovilfa longifolia

  saskatoon, Amelanchier alnifolia

  Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis

  scarlet butterfly weed, Gaura coccinea

  scarlet mallow, Sphaeralcea coccinea

  semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla

  serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia

  sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus

  shinnery oak, Querus havardii

  short-eared owl, Asio flammeus

  shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus

  showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa

  sicklefin chub, Macrhybopsis meeki

  sideoats grama, Bouteloua curtipendula

  sidewalk beetle, Pterostichus melanarius

  silverberry, Elaeagnus commutata

  silverleaf psoralea, Pediomelum argophyllum

  silver sagebrush, Artemisia cana

  skeleton weed, Lygodesmia juncea

  small lupine, Lupinus pusillus

  smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu

  Smith’s longspur, Calcarius pictus

  smooth brome, Bromus inermis

  snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus

  snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis

  snow goose, Chen caerulescens

  southern redbelly dace, Phoxinus erythrogaster

  speckled chub, Macrhybopsis aestivalis

  spotted ground squirrel, Spermophilus spilosoma

  spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia

  spotted towhee, Pipilo maculatus

  Sprague’s pipit, Anthus spragueii

  Steller’s jay, Cyanocitta stelleri

  stonecat, Noturus flavus

  striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis

  sturgeon chub, Macrhybopsis gelida

  suckermouth minnow, Phenacobius mirabilis

  Swainson’s hawk, Buteo swainsoni

  swift fox, Vulpes velox

  switchgrass, Panicum virgatum

  tall fescue, Lolium arundinaceum

  tamarisk, Tamarix ramosissima

  Texas blind salamander, Eurycea rathbuni

  Texas bluebonnet, Lupinus texensis

  thirteen-lined ground squirrel,

  Spermophilus tridecemlineatus

  three-flowered avens, Geum triflorum

  tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum

  timber milkvetch, Astragalus miser

  tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor

  trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides

  tufted evening primrose, Oenothera caespitosa

  tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor

  Turnbull’s grasshopper, Aeoloplides turnbulli

  two-striped grasshopper, Melanoplus bivittatus

  upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda

  Uvalde bigtooth maple, Acer grandidentatum

  vesper sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus

  Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana

  walleye, Stizostedion vitreum

  western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis

  western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta

  western porcupine grass, Hesperostipa spartea

  western prairie fringed orchid, Platanthera praeclara

  western sandpiper, Calidris mauri

  western screech-owl, Megascops kennicottii

  western silvery minnow, Hybognathus argyritis

  western wheatgrass, Pascopyrum smithii

  western wood lily, Lilium philadelphicum

  western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus

  wheat-stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus

  white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus

  white spruce, Picea glauca

  white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus

  white-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus townsendii

  whooping crane, Grus americana

  wild bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

  wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo

  willet, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

  Wilson’s phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor

  wolf, Canis lupus

  wolfberry, Symphoricarpos occidentalis

  wolf willow, Elaeagnus commutata

  wolverine, Gulo gulo

  Wyoming ground squirrel, Spermophilus elegans

  yarrow, Achillea millefolium

  yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

  yellow mud turtle, Kinosternon flavescens

  yellow-shafted flicker, Colaptes auratus

  yellow warbler, Dendroica petechia

  zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha

  Endemic Vertebrates of the Great Plains

  The species listed below are entirely, or almost entirely, restricted to the Great Plains. Starred entries identify species that are considered to be vulnerable, threatened or endangered in part or all of their range. The information is derived from three sources: Ecology and Conservation of Great Plains Vertebrates, a book edited by Fritz L. Knopf and Fred B. Samson and published in 1996; NatureServe Explorer (www.natureserve.org/explorer/), October 2009 update, and the catalogue of species at risk issued by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada in 2010.

  FISH

  * Pallid sturgeon

  * Western silvery minnow

  * Sturgeon chub

  * Sicklefin chub

  Redspot chub

  * Red River shiner

  Wedgespot shiner

  Blacknose shiner

  * Sharpnose shiner

  * Kiamichi shiner

  Ozark shiner

  * Topeka shiner

  * Peppered shiner

  * Smalleye shiner

  * Arkansas River shiner

  * Plateau shiner

  Duskystripe shiner

  Bleeding shiner

  Slim minnow

  * Headwater catfish

  * Widemouth blindcat

&nbs
p; * Toothless blindcat

  Ozark madtom

  Checkered madtom

  * Ouachita madtom

  * Neosho madtom

  * Caddo madtom

  Ozark cavefish

  Plains topminnow

  Ozark bass

  * Arkansas darter

  Arkansas saddled darter

  Yoke darter

  * Yellowcheek darter

  * Niangua darter

  * Paleback darter

  Stippled darter

  Orangebelly darter

  Missouri saddled darter

  * Bluestripe darter

  Longnose darter

  * Leopard darter

  * Fountain darter

  * Nueces roundnose

  minnow

  * Clear creek gambusia

  * Guadalupe bass

  REPTILES

  Texas map turtle

  Ornate box turtle

  * Dunes sagebrush lizard

  * Prairie skink

  * Harter’s watersnake

  Plains garter snake

  Lined snake

  AMPHIBIANS

  * Cascade caverns

  salamander

  * San Marcos salamander

  * Texas salamander

  * Comal blind salamander

  * Barton springs salamander

  * Jollyville plateau

  salamander

  * Salado springs salamander

  * Georgetown salamander

  * Pedernales River springs

  salamander

  * Edwards Plateau spring

  salamanders

  * Blanco River spring

  salamander

  * Texas blind salamander

  * Comal springs salamander

  * Blanco blind salamander

  * Plains spadefoot toad

  Plains leopard frog

  BIRDS

  * Lesser prairie chicken

  * Piping plover

  * Mountain plover

  * Long-billed curlew

  Marbled godwit

  Wilson’s phalarope

  Franklin’s gull

  * Sprague’s pipit

  Cassin’s sparrow

  Baird’s sparrow

  Lark bunting

  * McCown’s longspur

  * Chestnut-collared

  longspur

  * Black-capped vireo

  * Golden-cheeked warbler

  * Ferruginous hawk

  MAMMALS

  * Swift fox

  * Black-footed ferret

  Spotted skunk

  Pronghorn

  * Bison

  * Elliot’s short-tailed shrew

  Fringed myotis

  * Texas kangaroo rat

  * Black-tailed prairie dog

  Franklin’s ground squirrel

  Richardson’s ground

  squirrel

  Thirteen-lined ground

  squirrel

  * Knox Jones’s pocket gopher

  * Llano pocket gopher

  Plains pocket gopher

  Olive-backed pocket

  mouse

  Plains pocket mouse

  Hispid pocket mouse

  Northern grasshopper