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