{ APPENDICES }
Scientific Names
Common names for plants and animals often vary from place to place. To help prevent confusion, this list provides the currently accepted scientific names for extant species found on the Geat Plains. Where common names refer to subspecies, scientific names have been provided to the species level only. Because taxonomy is an ever-evolving science, the names given here may differ somewhat from those found in older field guides and other reference books.
American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
American badger, Taxidea taxus
American black bear, Ursus americanus
American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus
American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
American elm, Ulmus americana
American goldfinch, Carduelis tristis
American kestrel, Falco sparverius
American robin, Turdus migratorius
American wigeon, Anas americana
Arkansas River shiner, Notropis girardi
armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus
Ashe juniper, Juniperus ashei
ash-throated flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens
aspen poplar, Populus tremuloides
awned wheatgrass, Elymus trachycaulus
Baird’s sandpiper, Calidris bairdii
Baird’s sparrow, Ammodramus bairdii
balsam poplar, Populus balsamifera
Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula
banded argiope, Argiope trifasciata
barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
barnyard grass, Echinochloa crus-galli
beaver, Castor canadensis
big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii
bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis
bison, Bison bison
black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia
black bullhead, Ameiurus melas
black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus
black-crested titmouse, Baeolophus atricristatus
black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes
black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
Black Hills red-bellied snake, Storeria occipitomaculata
blacknose shiner, Notropis heterolepis
black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus
black-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys ludovicianus
black tern, Chlidonias niger
blowout grass, Redfieldia flexuosa
blowout penstemon, Penstemon haydenii
bluebunch wheatgrass, Pseudoroegneria spicata
bluebur, Lappula echinata
blue grama, Bouteloua gracilis
blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata
blue-stem prickly-poppy, Argemone albiflora
blue vervain, Verbena hastata
blue-winged teal, Anas discors
bobcat, Lynx rufus
bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus
box elder, Acer negundo
brassy minnow, Hybognathus hankinsoni
broomweed, Amphiachyris dracunculoides
brown-eyed susan, Rudbeckia triloba
brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater
brown-spotted range grasshopper, Psoloessa delicatula
buffalo grass, Buchloe dactyloides
bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
Bullock’s oriole, Icterus bullockii
bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa
burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia
butterfly milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa
California gull, Larus californicus
Canada goose, Branta canadensis
Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense
Canada wild rye, Elymus canadensis
canvasback, Aythya valisineria
Carlinian snapper grasshopper, Circotettix carlinianus
Carolina chickadee, Poecile carolinensis
cat’s claw mimosa, Mimosa aculeaticarpa
chestnut-collared longspur, Calcarius ornatus
chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina
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
* 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
mouse
Plains harvest mouse
* Palo Duro mouse
Prairie vole
White-tailed jackrabbit