Keep South Carolina Wild

Imperiled
Wildlife

In South Carolina, there are 1,125 species of plants and animals which have been designated as “Species of Concern.”  There are varying levels of protection, based on population numbers, available habitat, and other factors. 

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Department maintains the Endangered Species list of the most critical species which are designated as Federally Endangered or Threatened species.  Plants and animals on this list receive the highest level of protection, and critical habitat is highly managed and monitored.  See below for the list of federally protected species which can be found in South Carolina.

In addition to the Federal list, the SC Department of Natural Resources ranks other imperiled species which are not yet listed under the Endangered Species Act.  These species, in addition to endangered species, are all listed in the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) which includes details about each species, as well as plans for conservation of the species and habitats within our state.

The SWAP is updated every 10 years, and can be found at the link below:

State Wildlife action plan

Endangered Animals

  • Atlantic sturgeon – Acipenser oxyrinchus
  • Carolina heelsplitter – Lasmigona decorata
  • Gray bat – Myotis grisescens
  • Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle – Lepidochelys kempii
  • Indiana bat – Myotis sodalis
  • Leatherback sea turtle – Dermochelys coriacea
  • North Atlantic right whale – Eubalaena glacialis
  • Northern long-eared bat – Myotis septentrionalis
  • Rafinesque’s big-eared bat – Corynorhinus rafinesquii
  • Red-cockaded woodpecker – Picoides borealis
  • Rusty-patched bumble bee – Bombus affinis
  • Shortnose sturgeon – Acipenser brevirostrum

Threatened Animals

  • Bog turtle – Glyptemys muhlenbergii
  • Eastern black rail – Laterallus jamaicensis
  • Eastern indigo snake – Drymarchon couperi
  • Flatwoods salamander – Ambystoma cingulatum
  • Gopher tortoise – Gopherus polyphemus
  • Loggerhead sea turtle – Caretta caretta
  • Piping plover – Charadrius melodus
  • Red knot – Calidris canutus
  • West-Indian manatee – Trichechus manatus
  • Wood stork – Mycteria americana

Endangered Plants/Fungi

  • American chaffseed – Schwalbea americana
  • Black-spored quillwort – Isoetes melanospora
  • Bunched arrowhead – Sagittaria fasciculata
  • Canby’s dropwort – Oxypolis canbyi
  • Golden sedge – Carex lutea
  • Harperella – Ptilimnium nodosum
  • Michaux’s sumac – Rhus michauxii
  • Mountain sweet pitcher plant – Sarracenia rubra ssp. jonesii
  • Persistent trillium – Trillium persistens
  • Pondberry – Lindera melissifolia
  • Reflexed blue-eyed grass – Sisyrinchium dichotomum
  • Relict trillium – Trillium reliquum
  • Rocky gnome lichen – Gymnoderma lineare
  • Rough-leaved loosestrife – Lysimachia asperulaefolia
  • Schweinitz’s sunflower – Helianthus schweinitzii
  • Smooth coneflower – Echinacea laevigata

Threatened Plants

  • Dwarf-flowered heartleaf – Hexastylis naniflora
  • Miccosukee gooseberry – Ribes echinellum
  • Pool sprite/Little amphianthus – Amphianthus pusillus
  • Seabeach amaranth – Amaranthus pumilus
  • Small whorled pogonia – Isotria medeoloides
  • Swamp-pink – Helonias bullata
  • White fringeless orchid – Platanthera integrilabia
  • White irisette – Sisyrinchium dichotomum

Resources

US Fish & Wildlife Service State Wildlife Action Plan

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