Susan Combs - Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Texas Ahead - Economic Resources for Growing and Governing Texas

Species in Texas

Tracking Federal Action

Keeping Texas First provides information on species found in Texas that are:

  • on current watch because they have received or are slated for federal review within the next five years, including those that are of high interest due to the potential impact of federal action and because they spotlight key issues concerning the listing process; and/or
  • already listed as federally threatened or endangered (to provide context for the current regulatory environment).

Tracking federal action related to the regulation of species habitat is an ongoing exercise that requires constant monitoring.

Every effort is made to keep the information on this site as current as possible, but in some cases recent actions may not be reflected due to the ever-changing landscape of the endangered species petition and listing review process.


Current Watch Map

This at-a-glance map shows the concentration in each Texas county of species on the current watch list. See this important note on the data sources for this map.

On the Map

Click here to see a map with areas of Texas that may be impacted most by federal review of new listings of species as endangered.

High-Interest Species

The following species are of particularly high interest to Texans due to the potential economic impact of federal regulation or to the way in which they highlight our concerns about deficiencies in the listing process. They will continue to be monitored closely. This list will change over time, with new species brought to the forefront when relevant and necessary.

Dunes Sagebrush Lizard

Dunes Sagebrush Lizard

FWS has proposed the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard for listing despite a near-total lack of scientific fieldwork on the species’ habitat and numbers in Texas. The Comptroller’s office is working with stakeholders to develop a conservation plan that could help the impacted industries continue operating in the lizard’s habitat areas if the species is listed.

Freshwater Mussels

Freshwater Mussels

A group of 12 freshwater mussel species found in Texas have been petitioned are under review by FWS. Listing these species could affect a broad number of Texas communities.

Lesser Prairie Chicken

Lesser Prairie-chicken

FWS is widely expected to propose the lesser prairie-chicken for listing in summer 2012. The listing of this species could have a significant impact on energy development and agricultural production in the Panhandle region.

Bay Skipper Butterfly

Bay Skipper Butterfly

After a reviewing a petition to list the bay skipper butterfly, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a finding that listing of this species might be appropriate. The main threats to the species identified in the FWS finding are sea level rise and hurricanes. Comments on this finding must be submitted by Sept. 12, 2011.

Spot-tailed Earless Lizard

Spot-tailed Earless Lizard

The spot-tailed earless lizard is petitioned for listing and under 12-month review as FWS found the available information on the species may warrant listing. FWS has identified fire ants as the main threat to the species. The range of this species is believed to cover approximately one-third of the state of Texas.

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