Threatened and Endangered Species

Habitat loss, disease, invasion of exotic species, and pollution are some of the reasons that native animal and plant species may face extinction. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 has afforded some measure of protection and recognized the aesthetic, educational, historic, and scientific value of these species. It also allows for the classification of species as threatened or endangered and mandates legal protection for species so listed.

Threatened species: Any species that is in danger of becoming endangered throughout its range.
Endangered species: Any species that is in danger of extinction throughout its range.
Candidate species: Any species that is likely to be added to the threatened or endangered list soon.

 

 

Threatened and Endangered Species List
for Dry Tortugas National Park
T = Federally Threatened
E = Federally Endangered
C = Candidate species
* = Casual visitor
** = Extirpated

 

 

Common Name	Scientific Name	Status
Caracara, Audubon’s Crested	Polyborus aristodemus ponceanus	T*
Coral, Elkhorn	Acropora palmata	T
Coral, Staghorn	Acropora cervicornis	T
Crocodile, American	Crocodylus acutus	T*
Plover, Piping	Charadrius melodus	T
Sea Turtle, Loggerhead	Caretta caretta	T
Tern, Roseate	Sterna dougallii dougallii	T
Manatee, West Indian	Trichechus manatus	E*
Sea Turtle, Green	Chelonia mydas	E
Sea Turtle, Hawksbill	Eretmochelys imbricata	E
Sea Turtle, Kemp’s Ridley	Lepidochelys kempi	E*
Sea Turtle, Leatherback	Dermochelys coriacea	E*
Seal, Caribbean Monk	Monachus triopicalis	E**
Whale, Finback	Balaenoptera physalus	E*
Whale, Humpback	Megaptera novaeangliae	E*
Whale, Right	Balaena glacialis (incl. australis)	E*
Knot, Red	Calidris canutus rufa	C*

List updated July 29, 2009