The Gulf’s At Risk Marine and Coastal Species

Marine and Coastal Fish, Wildlife, and Plants in the Gulf listed as either threatened or endangered under the ESA include:

Birds: Artic peregrine falcon, bald eagle, Eskimo curlew, Mississippi Sandhill crane, Piping Plover, and whooping crane;

Land-based mammals: Alabama beach mouse, Florida panther, Florida Salt Marsh vole, Louisiana black bear, Perdido Key beach mouse, and the Puma.

Marine Mammals: Blue whale, Fin whale, Humpback whale, Minke whale, Sei whale, Sperm whale, and Right whale.

Serenia: West Indian Manatee

Sea Turtles: Green turtle, Hawksbill turtle, Kemp’s Ridley turtle, Leatherback turtle, and Loggerhead turtle.

Plants: Pondberry, Gulf coast lupine, snowy orchid, hooded pitcher plant, and Godfrey’s (violet) butterwort.

For a full listing of threatened and endangered species in the United States go to: http://endangered.fws.gov/wildlife.html

 (Note: Although not listed under the ESA, marine mammals, such as dolphins, in the Gulf of Mexico are protected under a separate act: the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).  The full text of the MMPA can be found at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws