Species in North Carolina

North Carolina Species

Mammals

A class of warm-blooded animals with fur or hair on their bodies. Mammals are vertebrates. The young are born live and feed on milk from their mothers. There are 121 species of mammals in North Carolina, 21 of which are protected. More information on some of our state's mammals is provided below.

Species	State Classi- fication	Additional Information
Armadillo, Nine-banded Dasypus novemcinctus	NonGame	More Information
Bat Chiroptera	NonGame	More Information
Bear, Black Ursus americanus	Big Game	More Information
Beaver Castor canadensis	Furbearer	More Information
Bobcat Lynx rufus	Game & Furbearer	More Information
Cougar, Eastern Felis concolor	Extinct	Profile
Coyote Canis latrans	NonGame	More Information
Deer, White-tailed Odocoileus virginianus	Big Game	More Information
Elk Cervus canadensis	NonGame	Evaluation of the Feasibility of Establishing a Huntable Elk Population in North Carolina (PDF)
Feral Swine Sus scrofa	NonGame	More Information
Fox, Gray Urocyon cinereoargenteus	Game	More Information
Fox, Red Vulpes vulpes	Game	More Information
Groundhog Marmota monax	NonGame	More Information
Mink Neovison vison	Furbearer	More Information
Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus	Furbearer	Profile Range Map (PDF)
Nutria Myocastor coypus	Furbearer	More Information
Opossum, Virginia Didelphis virginiana	Game & Furbearer	Profile
Otter, River Lontra canadensis	Furbearer	More Information
Rabbit, Appalachian Cottontail Sylvilagus obscurus	Game	More Information
Rabbit, Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus	Game	More Information
Rabbit, Marsh Sylvilagus palustris	Game	More Information
Raccoon Procyon lotor	Game & Furbearer	More Information
Skunk, Spotted Spilogale putorius	Furbearer	More Information
Skunk, Striped Mephitis mephitis	Furbearer	More Information
Squirrel, Carolina Northern Flying Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus	Endangered	More Information
Squirrel, Fox Sciurus niger	Game	More Information
Squirrel, Gray Sciurus carolinensis	Game	More Information
Squirrel, Southern Flying Glaucomys volans	NonGame	More Information
Weasel, Long-tailed Mustela frenata	Furbearer	Range Map (PDF)
Wolf, Red Canis rufus	Endangered	More Information

Fish

A class of vertebrate animals that breathe with gills and swim with fins. Fish can survive only in the water. Many fish are covered in scales.

Species	Classi- fication	Additional Information
American Shad Alosa sapidissima	Game Fish	American Shad Information
Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus	Nongame Fish	Profile (PDF)
Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus	Game Fish	Black Crappie Information
Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus	Nongame Fish	Blue Catfish Information
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus	Game Fish	Bluegill Information
Bodie Bass (hybrid striped bass) Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops	Game Fish	Bodie Bass Information
Bowfin Amia calva	Nongame Fish	Bowfin Information
Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis	Game Fish	Brook Trout Information
Brown Trout Salmo trutta	Game Fish	Brown Trout Information
Bullhead Catfish Ameiurus species	Nongame Fish	Bullhead Catfish Information
Cape Fear Shiner Notropis mekistocholas	Endangered	Cape Fear Shiner Information
Carolina Madtom Noturus furiosus	Nongame Fish	Carolina Madtom Information
Carolina Redhorse Moxostoma sp. ‘Carolina’	Threatened	Carolina Redhorse Information
Chain Pickerel Esox niger	Game Fish	Chain Pickerel Information
Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus	Nongame Fish	Channel Catfish Information
Common Carp Cyprinus carpio	Nongame Fish	Common Carp Information
Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris	Nongame Fish	Flathead Catfish Information
Golden Topminnow Fundulus chrysotus	Nongame Fish	Golden Topminnow Information
Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus	Game Fish	Green Sunfish Information
Hickory Shad Alosa mediocris	Game Fish	Hickory Shad Information
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides	Game Fish	Largemouth Bass Information
Muskellunge Esox masquinongy	Game Fish	Muskellunge Information
Pirate Perch Aphredoderus sayanus	Nongame Fish	Pirate Perch Information
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus	Game Fish	Pumpkinseed Information
Rainbow Trout Oncorhyncus mykiss	Game Fish	Rainbow Trout Information
Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis auritus	Game Fish	Redbreast Sunfish Information
Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus	Game Fish	Redear Sunfish Information
Roanoke Bass Ambloplites cavifrons	Game Fish	Roanoke Bass Information
Roanoke Hogsucker Hypentelium roanokense	Nongame Fish	Roanoke Hogsucker Information
Roanoke Logperch Percina rex	Endangered	Roanoke Logperch Information
Robust Redhorse Moxostoma robustum	Endangered	Robust Redhorse Information Fact sheet (low resolution) Fact sheet (high resolution)
Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris	Game Fish	Rock Bass Information
Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus	Nongame Fish	Sea Lamprey Information
Sicklefin Redhorse Moxostoma sp.	Threatened	Sicklefin Redhorse Information
Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu	Game Fish	Smallmouth Bass Information
Spotfin Chub Erimonax monachus	Threatened	Spotfin Chub Information
Spotted Bass Micropterus punctulatus	Game Fish	Spotted Bass Information
Striped Bass Morone saxatilis	Game Fish	Striped Bass Information
Tangerine Darter Percina aurantiaca	Nongame Fish	Tangerine Darter Information
Waccamaw Silverside Menidia extensa	Threatened	Waccamaw Silverside Information
Walleye Sander vitreus	Game Fish	Walleye Information
Warmouth Lepomis gulosus	Game Fish	Warmouth Information
White Bass Morone chrysops	Game Fish	White Bass Information
White Catfish Ameiurus catus	Nongame Fish	White Catfish Information
White Crappie Pomoxis annularis	Game Fish	White Crappie Information
White Perch Morone americana	Game Fish	White Perch Information
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens	Game Fish	Yellow Perch Information

Birds

A class of warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrates. Birds are covered in feathers, have wings and a beak. Many birds are able to fly.

Species	State Class- ification	Additional Information
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus	NonGame	More Information
Bobwhite quail, Northern Colinus virginianus	Game Species	More Information
Colonial Waterbirds	NonGame	Fact sheet. (low resolution) Fact sheet. (high resolution)
Dove, Mourning Zenaida macroura	Game Species	More Information
Duck, Black Anas rubripes	Game Species	More Information
Duck, Canvasback Aythya valisineria	Game Species	More Information
Duck, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	Game Species	More Information
Duck, Wood Aix sponsa	Game Species	Profile (PDF) North Carolina Wood Ducks Natural History and Management (PDF)
Egret, Snowy Egretta thula	Special Concern	More Information
Goose, Canada Branta canadensis	Game Species	More Information
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)	NonGame	More Information
Grouse, Ruffed Bonasa umbelius	Game Species	More Information
Hawk, Red Shoulder Buteo lineatus	NonGame	More Information
Neotropical Migratory Landbirds	NonGame	Fact sheet (low resolution) Fact sheet (high resolution)
Osprey Pandion haliaetus	NonGame	More Information
Owl, Great Horned Bubo virginianus	NonGame	More Information
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	NonGame	More Information
Pintail, Northern Anas acuta	Game Species	More Information
Rail, Clapper Rallus crepitans	Game Species	Additional Information
Swan, Tundra Cygnus columbianus	Game Species	More Information
Tern, Least Sternula antillarum	Special Concern	More Information
Turkey, Wild Meleagris gallopavo	Big Game	More Information
Waterfowl in North Carolina	Game Species	More Information
Wigeon, American Anas americana	Game Species	More Information
Woodcock, American Scolopax minor	Game Species	More information
Woodpecker, red-cockaded Picoides borealis	Endangered	More Information

Reptiles

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals that include snakes, lizards, alligators and turtles. North Carolina is home to 37 snake species; 12 lizard species; 1 alligator species; and 21 turtle species. Click on the links for additional photos and information.

Species	Classi- fication	Additional Information
Alligatoridae Family American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis	Threatened	More Information
Colubridae Family Corn Snake Elaphe guttata (Pantherophis guttatus)	NonGame	More Information
Colubridae Family Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis	NonGame	More Information
Colubridae Family Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)	NonGame	More Information
Dermochelyidae Family Leatherback Sea Turtle Dermochelys coriacea	Endangered	More Information
Emydidae Family Bog Turtle Glyptemys (Clemmys) muhlenbergii	Threatened	More Information
Emydidae Family Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin	Special Concern	More Information
Emydidae Family Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina carolina	NonGame	More Information
Emydidae Family Eastern Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta picta	NonGame	More Information
Viperidae Family Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix	NonGame	More Information
Viperidae Family Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus	NonGame	More Information

Amphibians

A class of animals including frogs, salamanders and caecilians. Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrates that undergo metamorphosis and require moist areas and/or aquatic environments at some stage of development. North Carolina is home to 31 frog species and 63 salamander species. Check this page frequently as we add more species information.

Species	Classi- fication	Additional Information
Bufonidae Family Fowler's Toad Bufo (Anaxyrus) fowleri	NonGame	More Information
Bufonidae Family American Toad Bufo (Anaxyrus) americanus	NonGame	More Information
Bufonidae Family Oak Toad Bufo (Anaxyrus) quercicus	NonGame	More Information
Bufonidae Family Southern Toad Bufo (Anaxyrus) terrestris	NonGame	More Information
Cryptobranchidae Family Eastern Hellbender Cryptobranchus a.alleganiensis	NonGame	More Information
Hylidae Family Little Grass Frog Pseudacris ocularis	NonGame	More Information
Hylidae Family Brimley's Chorus Frog Pseudacris brimleyi	NonGame	More Information
Hylidae Family Southern Chorus Frog Pseudacris nigrita	NonGame	More Information
Hylidae Family Gray Treefrog Cope's (Hyla chrysoscelis) Common (Hyla versicolor)	NonGame	More Information
Hylidae Family Cricket Frog Northern (Acris crepitans) Southern (Acris gryllus)	NonGame	More Information
Hylidae Family Mountain Chorus Frog Pseudacris brachyphona	Special Concern	More Information
Hylidae Family Ornate Chorus Frog Pseudacris ornata	Endangered	More Information
Hylidae Family Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer	NonGame	More Information
Hylidae Family Upland Chorus Frog Pseudacris feriarum	NonGame	More Information
Microhylidae Family Eastern Narrowmouth Toad Gastrophryne carolinensis	NonGame	More Information
Pelobatidae Family Eastern Spadefoot Scaphiopus holbrookii	NonGame	More Information
Plethodontidae Family Green Salamander Aneides aeneus	Threatened	More Information
Plethodontidae Family Seepage Salamander Desmognathus aeneus	NonGame	More Information
Ranidae Family American Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana	NonGame	More Information
Ranidae Family Carolina Gopher Frog Rana capito	Endangered	More Information
Ranidae Family Carpenter Frog Rana virgatipes	NonGame	More Information
Ranidae Family Green Frog Rana clamitans	NonGame	More Information
Ranidae Family Pickerel Frog Rana palustris	NonGame	More Information
Ranidae Family Wood Frog Rana sylvatica	NonGame	More Information
Ranidae Family Southern Leopard Frog Rana sphenocephala	NonGame	More Information

Crustaceans

An invertebrate animal with a hard exoskeleton and at least five pairs of jointed legs on the thorax. Crabs, lobsters, shrimp and crayfish are all crustaceans. Additional information.

Image	Species	Classification	Additional Information
	Grandfather Mountain Crayfish Cambarus (C.) eeseeohensis	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Broad River Stream Crayfish Cambarus (C.) lenati	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Longnose Crayfish Cambarus (H.) longirostris	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Mitten Crayfish Cambarus (J.) asperimanus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Red Burrowing Crayfish Cambarus (J.) carolinus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Upland Burrowing Crayfish Cambarus (J.) dubius	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Tuckasegee Stream Crayfish Cambarus (J.) tuckasegee	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Valley River Crayfish Cambarus (P.) brimleyorum	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Chauga Crayfish Cambarus (P.) chaugaensis	Special Concern	Additional Information
	Little Tennessee River Crayfish Cambarus (P.) georgiae	Special Concern	Additional Information
	Hiwassee Crayfish Cambarus (P.) hiwasseensis	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Carolina Foothills Crayfish Cambarus (P.) johni	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Hiwassee Headwaters Crayfish Cambarus (P.) parrishi	Special Concern	Additional Information
	French Broad Crayfish Cambarus (P.) reburrus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	No common name Cambarus (P.) sp. C	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Broad River Spiny Crayfish Cambarus (P.) spicatus	Special Concern	Additional Information
	Virile Crayfish Orconectes (G.) virilis	Non-native	Additional Information
	Rusty Crayfish Orconectes (P.) rusticus	Non-native	Additional Information
	Spiny Stream Crayfish Orconectes (P.) cristavarius	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Greensboro Burrowing Crayfish Cambarus (D.) catagius	Special Concern	Additional Information
	No common name Cambarus (D.) latimanus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Sickle Crayfish Cambarus (D.) reduncus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Atlantic Slope Crayfish Cambarus (H.) longulus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Appalachian Brook Crayfish Cambarus (C.) bartonii	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Carolina Ladle Crayfish Cambarus (C.) davidi	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Chattahoochee Crayfish Cambarus (C.) sp. A	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	New River Crayfish Cambarus (H.) chasmodactylus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Knotty Burrowing Crayfish Cambarus (J.) nodosus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Devil Crayfish Cambarus (L.) diogenes	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Rocky River Crayfish Cambarus (P.) hobbsorum	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Big River Crayfish Cambarus (P.) robustus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Spinytail Crayfish Cambarus (T.) acanthura	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Digger Crayfish Fallicambarus (C.) fodiens	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Chowanoke Crayfish Orconectes (C.) virginiensis	Special Concern	Additional Information
	North Carolina Spiny Crayfish Orconectes (P.) carolinensis	Special Concern	Additional Information
	Tennessee River Spiny Crayfish Orconectes (P.) spinosus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	White River Crayfish Procambarus (O.) acutus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Edisto Crayfish Procambarus (O.) ancylus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Santee Crayfish Procambarus (O.) blandingii	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Waccamaw Crayfish Procambarus (O.) braswelli	Special Concern	Additional Information
	Pamlico Crayfish Procambarus (O.) medialis	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Sandhills Crayfish Procambarus (O.) pearsei	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Croatan Crayfish Procambarus (O.) plumimanus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
	Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus (S.) clarkii	Non-native	Additional Information
	Carolina Needlenose Crayfish Cambarus (P.) aldermanorum	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
Credit: TWRA-Carl Williams	Reticulate Crayfish Orconectes (C.) erichsonianus	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information
Credit: TWRA-Carl Williams	Surgeon Crayfish Orconectes (P.) forceps	Nongame Fish - Crustacean	Additional Information

Mollusks

Mollusks are a group that includes snails, slugs, and mussels. They are invertebrate animals with soft, unsegmented bodies. Most have hard, external shells.

Management Recommendations

Mussels

North Carolina is home to more than 60 species of freshwater mussels. Unfortunately, 50% of these species are designated Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern within the state. The Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program strives to prevent species from becoming endangered through maintaining viable, self-sustaining populations of native wildlife, with an emphasis on species in decline. Public education is a major component of this effort. The following list provide detailed information about North Carolina's freshwater mussel species.

Note: When you see an example like (Conrad, 1834), this indicates the namer of the species and date of the description with that species name.

Species	Classification	Additional Information
Alewife Floater Anodonta implicata	State Threatened	Additional Information
Appalachian Elktoe Alasmidonta raveneliana	Federal and State Endangered	Additional Information
Atlantic Pigtoe Fusconaia masoni	State Endangered	Additional Information
Barrel Floater Anodonta couperiana	State Endangered	Additional Information
Brook Floater Alasmidonta varicosa	State Endangered	Additional Information
Cape Fear Spike Elliptio marsupiobesa	State Special Concern	Additional Information
Carolina Creekshell Villosa vaughaniana	State Endangered	Additional Information
Carolina Fatmucket Lampsilis radiata conspicua	State Threatened	Additional Information
Carolina Heelsplitter Lasmigona decorata	Federal and State Endangered	Additional Information
Creeper Strophitus undulatus	State Threatened	Additional Information
Cumberland Bean Pearlymussel Villosa trabalis	State Extirpated	Additional Information
Cumberland Moccasinshell Medionidus conradicus	State Extirpated	Additional Information
Dwarf Wedgemussel Alasmidonta heterodon	Federal and State Endangered	Additional Information
Eastern Creekshell Villosa delumbis	State Endangered	Additional Information
Eastern Lampmussel Lampsilis radiata radiata	State Threatened	Additional Information
Eastern Pondmussel Ligumia nasuta	State Threatened	Additional Information
Green Floater Lasmigona subviridis	State Endangered	Additional Information
Kidneyshell Ptychobranchus fasciolaris	State Extirpated	Additional Information
Littlewing Pearlymussel Pegias fabula	Federal and State Endangered	Additional Information
Mountain Creekshell Villosa vanuxemensis	State Threatened	Additional Information
Notched Rainbow Villosa constricta	State Special Concern	Additional Information
Oyster Mussel Epioblasma capsaeformis	State Extirpated	Additional Information
Pheasantshell Actinonaias pectorosa	State Extirpated	Additional Information
Pimpleback Quadrula pustulosa	State Extirpated	Additional Information
Pistolgrip Tritogonia verrucosa	State Extirpated	Additional Information
Pod Lance Elliptio folliculata	State Special Concern	Additional Information
Purple Lilliput Toxolasma lividus	State Extirpated	Additional Information
Purple Wartyback Cyclonaias tuberculata	State Endangered	Additional Information
Rainbow Villosa iris	State Special Concern	Additional Information
Roanoke Slabshell Elliptio roanokensis	State Threatened	Additional Information
Savannah Lilliput Toxolasma pullus	State Endangered	Additional Information
Slippershell Mussel Alasmidonta viridis	State Endangered	Additional Information
Spike Elliptio dilatata	State Special Concern	Additional Information
Tar River Spinymussel Elliptio steinstansana	Federal and State Endangered	Additional Information
Tennessee Heelsplitter Lasmigona holstonia	State Endangered	Additional Information
Tennessee Pigtoe Fusconaia barnesiana	State Endangered	Additional Information
Tidewater Mucket Leptodea ochracea	State Threatened	Additional Information
Triangle Floater Alasmidonta undulata	State Threatened	Additional Information
Wabash Pigtoe Fusconaia flava	State Extirpated	Additional Information
Waccamaw Fatmucket Lampsilis fullerkati	State Threatened	Additional Information
Waccamaw Spike Elliptio waccamawensis	State Threatened	Additional Information
Wavyrayed Lampmussel Lampsilis fasciola	State Special Concern	Additional Information
Yellow Lampmussel Lampsilis cariosa	State Endangered	Additional Information
Yellow Lance Elliptio lanceolata	State Endangered	Additional Information

At Your Service

Purchase Licenses & Permits

Download the Protected Wildlife Species of NC document

Species Classifications

Endangered

"Endangered" status includes any native species whose continued existence as a viable component of the state's fauna is determined to be in jeopardy and/or is designated "Endangered" by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act.

Extirpated

"Extirpated" status is in reference to a population, no longer present as live individuals in a particular area.

Threatened

A status of "Threatened" includes any native species likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range within the state and/or is designated "Threatened" by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act.

Learning > Species

North Carolina Species

Mussels

At Your Service

Species Classifications