Reclassification of 28 Maryland Threatened and Endangered Species Proposed

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ANNAPOLIS-MD – After a review of the biological data associated with Maryland’s biota, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposed changes to its official list of species that are classified as In Need of Conservation, Threatened, or Endangered.

Intensive field surveys by DNR biologists and other scientists have demonstrated that three animal species and five plant species warrant inclusion on the State’s list of protected species. DNR proposed reclassifying 20 species by changing the status of four animal and five plant species and by removing two animal and nine plant species from the official list.

There are four categories in the Maryland Threatened and Endangered Species regulations: Endangered; Endangered Extirpated; Threatened; and In Need of Conservation. Endangered species are those in danger of becoming extirpated from Maryland. Endangered Extirpated are species, once native to Maryland, that no longer occur in the state. Threatened species are those threatened with becoming endangered in Maryland. According to state law, only animals can qualify for the category of In Need of Conservation. These species, although not considered to be currently threatened with extirpation, are considered vulnerable and require conservation measures in order to survive in Maryland.

The proposed changes listed below will appear in the MD register and can be viewed online at http://www.dsd.state.md.us/mdregister/3416/main_register.htm.

Written comments may be sent to Glenn Therres, DNR-Wildlife and Heritage Service, 580 Taylor Ave., E-1, Annapolis, MD 21401, by phone at 410-260-8572 or via e-mail at gtherres@dnr.state.md.us Comments must be received by 4:00 p.m. on September 4, 2007.

Common Name	Scientific Name	Current Statusa	Proposed Statusa
ANIMALS
Mollusks:
Atlantic Spike	Elliptio producta	-	I
Yellow Lampmussel	Lampsilis cariosa*	X	-
Insects:
Coleoptera- Beetles
A Tenebrionid Beetle	Helops cisteloides	-	E
A Tenebrionid Beetle	Schoenicus puberulus	-	E
Fish:
Blackbanded Sunfish	Enneacanthus chaetodon	T	E
Amphibians:
Mountain Chorus Frog	Pseudacris brachyphona	T	E
Carpenter Frog	Rana virgatipes	I	-
Birds:
Black Rail	Laterallus jamaicensis	I	E
Mammals:
Eastern Small-footed Myotis	Myotis leibii	I	E
PLANTS
Round-leaf Serviceberry	Amelanchier sanguinea	-	E
Running Shadbush	Amelanchier stolonifera	T	-
Clasping-leaved Dogbane	Apocynum sibiricum*	X	-
Cypress-knee Sedge	Carex decomposita	X	E
Cloud Sedge	Carex haydenii	-	E
Lake-bank Sedge	Carex lacustris	T	-
Slender Wood Reedgrass	Cinna latifolia	T	-
Twin Oats	Diarrhena americana*	E	-
Log Fern	Dryopteris celsa	T	-
Rock-Clubmoss	Huperzia porophila	X	-
Clasping-leaved St. John's Wort	Hypericum gymnanthum	E	-
Vetchling Peavine	Lathyrus palustris	X	E
Carolina Clubmoss	Lycopodiella caroliniana	X	E
Glade Mallow	Napaea dioica	-	E
Awned Mountain-mint	Pycnanthemum setosum	T	-
Few-flowered Beakrush	Rhynchospora oligantha	-	X
Narrow Plumegrass	Saccharum baldwinii	-	E
Coastal Plain Blue-eyed Grass	Sisyrinchium fuscatum (arenicola)	X	E
Nodding Pogonia	Triphora trianthophora	X	E

 

^aCodes are as follows: - = Not Listed; I = In Need of Conservation;

T = Threatened; E = Endangered; X = Endangered Extirpated

 

* = An accepted synonym of a common species or one with questionable nativity.

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August 9, 2007

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov