Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need (2022)

Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need (RSGCN) are the foundation of conservation collaboration in the Northeastern states. Every five years, taxonomic experts throughout the region work together to review the list, adding species with newly documented declines or emerging threats and removing more secure species.

Common Name Scientific Name RSGCN Concern Taxon SubTaxon
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus Moderate Bird Landbirds
Green Salamander Aneides aeneus Moderate Amphibian Salamanders
Black Mountain Salamander Desmognathus welteri Moderate Amphibian Salamanders
American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus Moderate Bird Shorebirds
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera Moderate Bird Landbirds
Swamp Darter Etheostoma fusiforme Moderate Fish Freshwater Fish
Kanawha Darter Etheostoma kanawhae Moderate Fish Freshwater Fish
Longfin Darter Etheostoma longimanum Moderate Fish Freshwater Fish
Shortfin Mako Isurus oxyrinchus Moderate Fish Marine Fish
Porbeagle Lamna nasus Moderate Fish Marine Fish
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina Moderate Bird Landbirds
Allegheny Pearl Dace Margariscus margarita Moderate Fish Freshwater Fish
Common Tern Sterna hirundo Moderate Bird Waterbirds
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna Moderate Bird Landbirds
Thorny Skate Amblyraja radiata Moderate Fish Marine Fish
Variegate Darter Etheostoma variatum Moderate Fish Freshwater Fish
Glassy Darter Etheostoma vitreum Moderate Fish Freshwater Fish
Tonguetied Minnow Exoglossum laurae Moderate Fish Freshwater Fish
Valley and Ridge Salamander Plethodon hoffmani Moderate Amphibian Salamanders
New Jersey Chorus Frog Pseudacris kalmi Moderate Amphibian Frogs and Toads
American Woodcock Scolopax minor Moderate Bird Shorebirds
Shield Darter Percina peltata Moderate Fish Freshwater Fish
Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix Moderate Fish Marine Fish
Smooth Hammerhead Sphyrna zygaena Moderate Fish Marine Fish
Tautog Tautoga onitis Moderate Fish Marine Fish
Sandbar Shark Carcharhinus plumbeus Moderate Fish Marine Fish
Night Shark Carcharhinus signatus Moderate Fish Marine Fish
Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata Moderate Fish Marine Fish
Common Thresher Shark Alopias vulpinus Moderate Fish Marine Fish
Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis Moderate Fish Diadromous Fish
Hickory Shad Alosa mediocris Moderate Fish Diadromous Fish
Banded Sunfish Enneacanthus obesus Moderate Fish Freshwater Fish
Shenandoah Needlefly Megaleuctra flinti Moderate Insect:EPT Stoneflies
Elfin Skimmer Nannothemis bella Moderate Insect:Odonata Dragonflies and Damselflies
Dark Stoneroot Borer Moth Papaipema duplicatus Moderate Insect:Lepidoptera Moths
Florida Sprite Photinus floridanus Moderate Insect:Coleoptera Other Beetles
Salt Marsh Firefly Photuris salina Moderate Insect:Coleoptera Other Beetles
West Virginia White Pieris virginiensis Moderate Insect:Lepidoptera Butterflies and Skippers
Crowberry Blue Plebejus idas empetri Moderate Insect:Lepidoptera Butterflies and Skippers
Illinois Snowfly Allocapnia illinoensis Moderate Insect:EPT Stoneflies
Monarch Danaus plexippus Moderate Insect:Lepidoptera Butterflies and Skippers
Edwards' Hairstreak Satyrium edwardsii Moderate Insect:Lepidoptera Butterflies and Skippers
Ski-tipped Emerald Somatochlora elongata Moderate Insect:Odonata Dragonflies and Damselflies
Broad-tailed Shadowdragon Neurocordulia michaeli Moderate Insect:Odonata Dragonflies and Damselflies
Yellow-banded Bumble Bee Bombus terricola Moderate Insect:Hymenoptera Bumble Bees
Bog Elfin Callophrys lanoraieensis Moderate Insect:Lepidoptera Butterflies and Skippers
Hoary Elfin Callophrys polios Moderate Insect:Lepidoptera Butterflies and Skippers
Appalachian Jewelwing Calopteryx angustipennis Moderate Insect:Odonata Dragonflies and Damselflies
Tug Valley Crayfish Cambarus hatfieldi Moderate Crustacean Crayfishes
Greenbrier River Crayfish Cambarus smilax Moderate Crustacean Crayfishes