Rare and Endangered Species
Rare Species by Town MESA (Massachusetts Endangered Species Act) and Federal Status:
- E = Endangered
- T = Threatened
- SC = Special Concern
Most Recent Observation
This field represents the most recent observation. Because they are rare, many MESA-listed species are difficult to detect even when they are present. Natural Heritage does not have the resources to be able to conduct methodical species surveys in each town on a regular basis. Therefore, the fact that the 'Most Recent Observation' recorded for a species may be several years old should not be interpreted as meaning that the species no longer occurs in a town. However, Natural Heritage regards records older than twenty-five years historic.
For more information about a particular species, view the list of Natural Heritage Fact Sheets.
These data were extracted from the database of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program in August 2006.
Town | Taxonomic Group | Scientific Name | Common Name | MESA Status | Federal Status | Most Recent Observation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LANCASTER | Amphibian | Ambystoma laterale | Blue-spotted Salamander | SC | 1997 | |
LANCASTER | Amphibian | Hemidactylium scutatum | Four-toed Salamander | SC | 2002 | |
LANCASTER | Bird | Circus cyaneus | Northern Harrier | T | 1904 | |
LANCASTER | Bird | Accipiter striatus | Sharp-shinned Hawk | SC | 1909 | |
LANCASTER | Bird | Rallus elegans | King Rail | T | 1999 | |
LANCASTER | Bird | Bartramia longicauda | Upland Sandpiper | E | 1994 | |
LANCASTER | Bird | Asio otus | Long-eared Owl | SC | 1898 | |
LANCASTER | Bird | Pooecetes gramineus | Vesper Sparrow | T | 1993 | |
LANCASTER | Bird | Ammodramus savannarum | Grasshopper Sparrow | T | 1999 | |
LANCASTER | Bird | Ammodramus henslowii | Henslow's Sparrow | E | 1939 | |
LANCASTER | Butterfly / Moth | Itame sp. 1 nr. inextricata | Pine Barrens Itame | SC | 1992 | |
LANCASTER | Butterfly / Moth | Lycia rachela | Twilight Moth | E | 2002 | |
LANCASTER | Butterfly / Moth | Zanclognatha martha | Pine Barrens Zanclognatha | T | 1994 | |
LANCASTER | Butterfly / Moth | Psectraglaea carnosa | Pink Sallow | SC | 1993 | |
LANCASTER | Dragonfly / Damselfly | Enallagma laterale | New England Bluet | SC | 1939 | |
LANCASTER | Dragonfly / Damselfly | Stylurus scudderi | Zebra Clubtail | E | 2001 | |
LANCASTER | Dragonfly / Damselfly | Stylurus spiniceps | A Clubtail Dragonfly | T | 2001 | |
LANCASTER | Mammal | Sorex palustris | Water Shrew | SC | 1986 | |
LANCASTER | Mussel | Alasmidonta undulata | Triangle Floater | SC | 1997 | |
LANCASTER | Reptile | Glyptemys insculpta | Wood Turtle | SC | 1998 | |
LANCASTER | Reptile | Emydoidea blandingi | Blanding's Turtle | T | 2006 | |
LANCASTER | Reptile | Terrapene carolina | Eastern Box Turtle | SC | 1992 | |
LANCASTER | Vascular Plant | Panicum philadelphicum | Philadelphia Panic-grass | SC | 1995 | |
LANCASTER | Vascular Plant | Eragrostis frankii | Frank's Lovegrass | SC | 1939 | |
LANCASTER | Vascular Plant | Platanthera flava var. herbiola | Pale Green Orchis | T | 1944 | |
LANCASTER | Vascular Plant | Platanthera dilatata | Leafy White Orchis | T | 1904 | |
LANCASTER | Vascular Plant | Eleocharis ovata | Ovate Spike-sedge | E | 1991 | |
LANCASTER | Vascular Plant | Cyperus houghtonii | Houghton's Flatsedge | E | 1997 | |
LANCASTER | Vascular Plant | Carex typhina | Cat-tail Sedge | T | 1999 | |
LANCASTER | Vascular Plant | Arceuthobium pusillum | Dwarf Mistletoe | SC |
| 1924 |
LANCASTER | Vascular Plant | Petasites frigidus var. palmatus | Sweet Coltsfoot | E | 1912 | |
LANCASTER | Vascular Plant | Liatris scariosa var. novae-angliae | New England Blazing Star | SC | 1908 |