Volume 4 • Issue 6 • June 2010
Report Those Rare Species!
Your Help is Needed
In Oklahoma, there are these things called rare species. You hear the name or see a picture and think, “I have NEVER seen anything like this.” Well, they do exist and could actually be close to you!
|The black-tailed prairie dog is one of these important species. Photo by Lesley B. McNeff.
Ok, so what exactly is a rare species? Easily said, a rare species is one that is very uncommon or scarce. But did you know that just because a species is
rare, it's not always considered threatened, endangered or vulnerable. There are those that have large numbers in particular areas and you can almost count on seeing them. Some of these include American alligators, black-tailed prairie dogs and barn owls.
So why do species become rare? Here are seven important reasons:
1. Changes in habitats, both on land and in water
2. Introduced and invasive species tend
to compete with native species, carry disease or degrade their habitat
3. Various contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, industrial and automobile emissions and many other things play a huge role
4. Human reduction in the number of the species due to “threat” or “poor quality”
5. Being “geographically limited”: limited in amount of land habitats
6. Vulnerable characteristics such as low rates of reproduction or requiring large home ranges
7. Disease from outside of species ranges
Yes, these are almost depressing reasons. But they are a reminder to watch those antics you perform! Keep your head up and an eye out for those animals and let us know when and where they are seen.
If you have information on the location of a rare animal and would like to help us build the list,
contact us. This data will help us develop important habitat mapping and look at wildlife trends. In the end your help will actually help us in developing strategies for conserving those threatened, endangered and vulnerable species.
Written by Lesley B.
Carson. Lesley is the wildlife diversity information specialist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Small Mussel, Fancy Name
Freshwater mussels are fascinating creatures and are an important part of native ecosystems. Mussels are filter feeders and can help improve water quality and clarity. They can also serve as biological indicators of the environment and are strongly tied to aquatic food webs. Freshwater mussel populations have been declining worldwide due to habitat degradation and fragmentation therefore conservation efforts are crucial for sustainability of these special invertebrates.
One of these native freshwater mussels, the lilliput (Toxolasma parvus), is common in some parts of Oklahoma and grows to only be one inch in length. Lilliputs are mostly found in ponds or lakes but can also be noticed in pools of fast-flowing streams. This tiny mussel relies on fish hosts such as bluegill, green sunfish, orange-spotted sunfish, and crappie for reproduction. As part of the mussel’s complex life cycle, the female must get her larvae to attach onto the gills or fins of a fish host. The female lilliput entices host fish to get near by using a lure mechanism that resembles two white-colored worms.
|The lilliput mussel is known by its small size.
The lilliput is among one of the smallest mussels in the family Unionidae. They can be identified first by their small size and dark brown shell and secondly by a simple touch. This mussel has a cloth-like texture and some say it feels like wet leather.
Lilliputs are fairly common in Oklahoma
and are found throughout most of state.
Written by Curtis Tackett. Curtis is the aquatic nuisance species biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Finding "Lost" Wildlife
Here are our recommendations on what to do when you find “lost” wildlife. You might consider printing this information out and placing the article on your refrigerator to use as a quick reference.
People often find eggs or young birds in their yards during the spring and summer. If the nest is visible, place the eggs or young birds back in t