Utah Species Field Guide

Welcome to the Field Guide for Utah Species, a database maintained by the Utah Natural Heritage Program. This guide is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all species found in Utah, and currently prioritizes our state's 256 native species of greatest conservation need as identified in Utah's Wildlife Action Plan.

This guide provides information on the identification, distribution, status and ecology of Utah's most at-risk animals and plants. As time and funding allow, this database will include all native Utah species.

To find a specific species, enter it in the search bar or use the breadcrumb menu below.

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• Plants (Plantae)

  Multicellular organisms that are autotrophic or make complex carbohydrates from basic constituents. Most use photosynthesis.

  • Flowering Plants (Anthophyta)

    Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed in an ovary

    • Dicots (Dicotyledoneae)

      • Parsley / Ginseng (Apiales)

        • Parsley/Carrot Family (Apiaceae)

          • Wheeler's Angelica (Angelica wheeleri)
          • Canyonlands Lomatium (Lomatium latilobum)
          • Rydberg's Musineon (Musineon lineare)
          • Mt. Naomi Musineon (Musineon naomiensis)

      • Aster/Sunflowers (Asterales)

        • Aster/Sunflowers (Asteraceae)

          • La Sal Mountains' Groundsel (Senecio inexpectatus)
          • Untermann's Daisy (Erigeron untermannii)
          • Last Chance Townsendia (Townsendia aprica)
          • Sigurd Easter Daisy (Townsendia jonesii var. lutea)
          • Musinea Groundsel (Packera musiniensis)
          • Rock Hymenoxys (Hymenoxys lapidicola)
          • Garrett's Fleabane (Erigeron garrettii)
          • Joanna's thistle (Cirsium joannae)
          • La Sal Daisy (Erigeron mancus)
          • Western Townsend-daisy (Townsendia mensana)
          • Cronquist Daisy (Erigeron cronquistii)
          • Barneby's Rockaster (Herrickia kingii var. barnebyana)
          • Entrada Skeletonplant (Lygodesmia grandiflora var. entrada)
          • Alcove Rock-daisy (Laphamia specicola)
          • Beaver Mountain Groundsel (Packera castoreus)
          • Jones Golden-aster (Heterotheca jonesii)

      • Mustards/Capers (Capparales)

        • Mustards (Brassicaceae)

          • Shrubby Reed-mustard (Hesperidanthus suffrutescens)
          • Maguire's Whitlow-grass (Draba maguirei ssp. maguirei)
          • Kodachrome Bladderpod (Physaria tumulosa)
          • Burke's Whitlow-grass (Draba burkei)
          • Clay Reed-mustard (Hesperidanthus argillaceus)
          • Uinta Mountains draba (Draba inexpectata)
          • Barneby Ridgecress (Lepidium barnebyanum)
          • Mount Belknap Draba (Draba ramulosa)
          • Grouse Creek Rockcress (Boechera falcatoria)
          • Huber's Pepperplant (Lepidium huberi)
          • Creeping Draba (Draba sobolifera)
          • Ostler Peppergrass (Lepidium ostleri)
          • Frisco Mountains mustard (Terraria haydenii)
          • Barneby's Reed-Mustard (Hesperidanthus barnebyi)
          • Schell Creek draba (Draba pennellii)
          • Garrett Bladderpod (Lesquerella garrettii)
          • Snowbasin Rockcress (Boechera glareosa)

        • Capparaceae

          • Goodrich’s Cleomella (Cleomella hillmanii var. goodrichii)

      • Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)

        • Cactus (Cactaceae)

          • Pariette Cactus (Sclerocactus brevispinus)
          • Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus (Sclerocactus wetlandicus)
          • Wright Fishhook Cactus (Sclerocactus wrightiae)
          • Winkler's Pincushion Cactus (Pediocactus winkleri)
          • Siler Pincushion Cactus (Pediocactus sileri)
          • Despain Pincushion Cactus (Pediocactus despainii)

        • Chenopodiaceae

          • Giant Four-wing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens var. gigantea)

        • Cacaceae

          • Purple-spined Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus relictus)

        • Purslane Family (Portulacaceae)

          • Thompson’s flameflower (Phemeranthus thompsonii)
          • Maguire's Bitteroot (Lewisia maguirei)

      • Peas (Fabales)

        • Pea Family (Fabaceae)

          • Heliotrope Milkvetch (Astragalus montii)
          • Pohl's Milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus var. pohlii)
          • Stage Station Milkvetch (Astragalus vehiculus)
          • Kane Breadroot (Pediomelum megalanthum var. epipsilum)
          • Cronquist Milkvetch (Astragalus cronquistii)
          • Cisco Milkvetch (Astragalus sabulosus)
          • Mesic Milkvetch (Astragalus diversifolius)
          • Shivwits Milkvetch (Astragalus ampullarioides)
          • Table Cliff Milkvetch (Astragalus limnocharis var. tabulaeus)
          • Deseret Milkvetch (Astragalus desereticus)
          • Isely's Milkvetch (Astragalus iselyi)
          • Navajo Lake Milkvetch (Astragalus limnocharis var. limnocharis)
          • Avon Milkvetch (Astragalus praelongus var. avonensis)
          • Horseshoe Milkvetch (Astragalus equisolensis)
          • Glenwood Milkvetch (Astragalus loanus)
          • Barneby's Aromatic Scurf-pea (Pediomelum aromaticum var. barnebyi)
          • Guard Milkvetch (Astragalus zionis var. vigulus)
          • Goose Creek Milkvetch (Astragalus anserinus)
          • Gumbo Milkvetch (Astragalus ampullarius)
          • Paradox Milkvetch (Astragalus holmgreniorum)
          • Ann Kelsey’s milkvetch (Astragalus kelseyae)
          • Rollin's Sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale var. gremiale)
          • Tuhy Aromatic Scurf-pea (Pediomelum aromaticum var. tuhyi)
          • Hamilton's Milkvetch (Astragalus hamiltonii)

      • Dogbane / Gentian / Milkweed (Gentianales)

        • Milkweeds (Asclepiadaceae)

          • Welsh's Milkweed (Asclepias welshii)

        • Gentians (Gentianaceae)

          • Ackerman green gentian (Frasera ackermaniae)
          • Sunnyside Green-gentian (Frasera gypsicola)

        • Dogbanes (Apocynaceae)

          • Jones Cycladenia (Cycladenia humilis var. jonesii)

      • Borage / Mint / Verbena (Lamiales)

        • Borage Family (Boraginaceae)

          • Johnston Catseye (Oreocarya johnstonii)
          • Deep Creek Stickseed (Hackelia ibapensis)

      • Mallow (Malvales)

        • Mallow Family (Malvaceae)

          • Jones Globe-mallow (Sphaeralcea caespitosa var. caespitosa)
          • Smoky Mountain Globemallow (Sphaeralcea fumariensis)
          • Gierisch's globemallow (Sphaeralcea gierischii)

      • Evening-primrose / Loosestrife (Myrtales)

        • Evening-primrose Family (Onagraceae)

          • Meager Camissonia (Chylismia exilis)
          • Atwood's Camissonia (Chylismia atwoodii)
          • Narrow-leaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera acutissima)
          • Diamond Valley Suncup (Eremothera gouldii)
          • Murdock's Evening Primrose (Oenothera murdockii)

      • Fumary / Poppy (Papaverales)

        • Poppy Family (Papaveraceae)

          • Dwarf Bearclaw-poppy (Arctomecon humilis)

        • Fumary family (Fumariaceae)

          • Wasatch Fitweed (Corydalis caseana ssp. brachycarpa)

      • Buckwheats (Polygonales)

        • Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae)

          • Gate Canyon Buckwheat (Eriogonum hylophilum)
          • Zion Buckwheat (Eriogonum zionis var. zionis)
          • Ibex Buckwheat (Eriogonum ammophilum)
          • Comb Wash Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum clavellatum)
          • Smith's Buckwheat (Eriogonum smithii)
          • Scarlet Buckwheat (Eriogonum microtheca var. phoeniceum)
          • Lost Creek Buckwheat (Eriogonum mitophyllum)
          • Kaye's Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum artificis)
          • Frisco Buckwheat (Eriogonum soredium)

      • Primroses (Primulales)

        • Primrose Family (Primulaceae)

          • Maguire Primrose (Primula maguirei)
          • House Range Primrose (Primula domensis)
          • Utah Shooting-star (Primula utahensis)

      • Barberry / Buttercup (Ranunculales)

        • Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae)

          • Graham's Columbine (Aquilegia grahamii)
          • Autumn Buttercup (Ranunculus aestivalis)
          • Goodrich's Columbine (Aquilegia scopulorum var. goodrichii)
          • Lori's Columbine (Aquilegia loriae)
          • Link Trail Columbine (Aquilegia rubicunda)
          • Noel's columbine (Aquilegia holmgrenii)
          • Desolation Canyon Columbine (Aquilegia desolaticola)

      • Buckthorn / Grapes (Rhamnales)

        • Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae)

          • Franklin's Ceanothus (Ceanothus franklinii)

      • Rosales (Rosales)

        • Rose Family (Rosaceae)

          • Angell Cinquefoil (Potentilla angelliae)
          • Cottam's Cinquefoil (Potentilla cottamii)
          • Utah Ivesia (Ivesia utahensis)
          • Ostler's Ivesia (Ivesia shockleyi var. ostleri)
          • Holmgren Cinquefoil (Potentilla holmgrenii)

      • Scrophulariales (Scrophulariales)

        • Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae)

          • White River Beardtongue (Penstemon albifluvis)
          • Stemless Beardtongue (Penstemon acaulis)
          • Ben's Beardtongue (Penstemon franklinii)
          • Bear River Range Beardtongue (Penstemon compactus)
          • Gibben's Beardtongue (Penstemon gibbensii)
          • Idaho Penstemon (Penstemon idahoensis)
          • Sweet Penstemon (Penstemon angustifolius var. dulcis)
          • Graham's Beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii)
          • Goodrich Penstemon (Penstemon goodrichii)
          • Marcus Jones' Penstemon (Penstemon marcusii)
          • Canaan Mountain Beardtongue (Penstemon ammophilus)
          • Pinyon Penstemon (Penstemon pinorum)
          • Firleaf Beardtongue (Penstemon abietinus)

        • Broomrape Family (Orobanchaceae)

          • Tushar Paintbrush (Castilleja parvula)
          • Aquarius Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja aquariensis)

      • Solanales (Solanales)

        • Waterleaf Family (Hydrophyllaceae)

          • Cronquist's Phacelia (Phacelia cronquistiana)
          • Utah Phacelia (Phacelia utahensis)
          • Drab Phacelia (Phacelia indecora)
          • Atwood's Pretty (Phacelia pulchella var. atwoodii)
          • Clay Phacelia (Phacelia argillacea)
          • Argyle Canyon Phacelia (Phacelia argylensis)
          • Pavement Phacelia (Phacelia sabulonum)
          • Hughes's phacelia (Phacelia hughesii)

      • Violales (Violales)

        • Blazingstar / Stickleaf Family (Loasaceae)

          • Horse Canyon Stickleaf (Mentzelia librina)
          • Goodrich's Blazingstar (Mentzelia goodrichii)
          • Arapien Stick-leaf (Mentzelia argillosa)
          • Shultz Stickleaf (Mentzelia shultziorum)
          • September 11 stickleaf (Mentzelia memorabilis)

        • Violets (Violaceae)

          • Frank Smith's Violet (Viola frank-smithii)

    • Monocots (Monocotyledoneae)

      • Grasses/Sedges (Cyperales)

        • Sedges (Cyperaceae)

          • Navajo Sedge (Carex specuicola)

      • Lilies (Liliales)

        • Lillies (Liliaceae)

          • Passey's Onion (Allium passeyi)
          • Chatterley's Onion (Allium geyeri var. chatterleyi)

      • Orchids (Orchidales)

        • Orchids (Orchidaceae)

          • Ute Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis)

• Animals (Animalia)

  Multicellular organisms that develop from the fertilization of an egg by a sperm. Heterotrophic - obtain food by ingestion.

  • Vertebrates (Craniata)

    Have skulls and backbones.

    • Turtles (Chelonia)

      • Testudines

        • Tortoises (Testudinidae)

          • Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

    • Reptiles (Reptilia)

      Cold blooded, lay eggs on land

      • Lizards / Snakes (Squamata)

        • Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae)

          • Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana)

        • Vipers (Viperidae)

          • Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus concolor)

        • Helodermatidae

          • Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)

    • Amphibians (Amphibia)

      Cold blooded, moist skin

      • Frogs / Toads (Anura)

        • True Frogs (Ranidae)

          • Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens)
          • Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris)

        • True Toads (Bufonidae)

          • Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas)
          • Arizona Toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus)

    • Birds (Aves)

      Have feathers and lay eggs

      • Hawks / Kites / Eagles (Accipitriformes)

        • Hawks / Kites / Eagles (Accipitridae)

          • American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus)
          • Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
          • Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

      • Vultures / Condors (Cathartiformes)

        • Vultures / Condors (Cathartidae)

          • California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)

      • Shorebirds (Charadriiformes)

        • Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)

          • Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
          • Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)

        • Plovers (Charadriidae)

          • Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus)

        • Avocets (Recurvirostridae)

          • American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

      • Cuckoos (Cuculiformes)

        • Cuckoos (Cuculidae)

          • Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis)

      • Upland Game Birds (Galliformes)

        • Upland Game Birds (Phasianidae)

          • Gunnison Sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus)
          • Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus)
          • Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

      • Songbirds (Passeriformes)

        • Jays / Crows / Magpies (Corvidae)

          • Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)

        • Thrashers / Mockingbirds / Catbirds (Mimidae)

          • Bendire's Thrasher (Toxostoma bendirei)

        • New World Sparrows (Passerellidae)

          • Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis)

        • Finches (Fringillidae)

          • Black Rosy-finch (Leucosticte atrata)

        • Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

          • Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)

      • Pelicans / Herons / Bitterns / Ibises (Pelecaniformes)

        • Ibises (Threskiornithidae)

          • White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)

        • Pelicans (Pelecanidae)

          • American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

      • Woodpeckers (Piciformes)

        • Woodpeckers (Picidae)

          • Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)

      • Owls (Strigiformes)

        • Owls (Strigidae)

          • Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida)
          • Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
          • Flammulated Owl (Psiloscops flammeolus)

    • Mammals (Mammalia)

      Have hair, feed young milk, warm blooded.

      • Carnivores (Carnivora)

        • Weasels (Mustelidae)

          • Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
          • Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)

        • Wolves / Coyotes / Foxes (Canidae)

          • Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis)

      • Bats (Chiroptera)

        • Bats (Vespertilionidae)

          • Spotted Bat (Euderma maculatum)
          • Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
          • Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii)
          • Allen’s big-eared bat (Idionycteris phyllotis)
          • Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)

      • Rabbits / Hares (Lagomorpha)

        • Rabbits (Leporidae)

          • Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)

        • Pikas (Ochotonidae)

          • American Pika (Ochotona princeps)

      • Rodents (Rodentia)

        • Pocket Mice / Kangaroo Rats (Heteromyidae)

          • Dark Kangaroo Mouse (Microdipodops megacephalus)

        • Squirrels (Sciuridae)

          • White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus)
          • Gunnison's prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni)
          • Utah Prairie Dog (Cynomys parvidens)

    • Fish (Actinopterygii)

      Use gills to breathe

      • Minnows / Suckers (Cypriniformes)

        • Suckers (Catostomidae)

          • June Sucker (Chasmistes liorus)
          • Green Sucker (Pantosteus virescens)
          • Flannelmouth Sucker (Catostomus latipinnis)
          • Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus)
          • Desert Sucker (Pantosteus clarkii)
          • Bluehead Sucker (Catostomus discobolus)

        • Leuciscidae

          • Northern Leatherside (Lepidomeda copei)
          • Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius)
          • Virgin Spinedace (Lepidomeda mollispinis)
          • Virgin River Chub (Gila seminuda)
          • Southern Leatherside (Lepidomeda aliciae)
          • Humpback Chub (Gila cypha)
          • Bonytail (Gila elegans)
          • Woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus)
          • Roundtail Chub (Gila robusta)
          • Least Chub (Iotichthys phlegethontis)

      • Perch / Sticklebacks (Perciformes)

        • Sculpins (Cottidae)

          • Bear Lake Sculpin (Cottus extensus)

      • Salmon / Trout (Salmoniformes)

        • Trout (Salmonidae)

          • Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus)
          • Bear Lake Whitefish (Prosopium abyssicola)
          • Bonneville Whitefish (Prosopium spilonotus)
          • Bonneville Cisco (Prosopium gemmifer)
          • Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri)

  • Arthropods (Arthropoda)

    Invertebrates with an exoskeleton, jointed appendages, and segmented bodies

    • Insects (Insecta)

      Animals having 3 pair of legs, 3 body sections, generally 1 or 2 pair of wings, 1 pair of antennae.

      • Beetles (Coleoptera)

        • Carabidae

          • Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle (Cicindela albissima)

      • True Flies (Diptera)

        • Ephydridae

          • Brine Fly (Ephydra gracilis)

      • Sawflies / Wasps / Bees / Ants (Hymenoptera)

        • Bees (Apidae)

          • Morrison's Bumble Bee (Bombus morrisoni)
          • Suckley's Cuckoo Bumble Bee (Bombus suckleyi)
          • American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus)
          • Western Bumble Bee (Bombus occidentalis)

        • Andrenidae

          • Mojave Poppy Bee (Perdita meconis)

      • Butterflies / Moths (Lepidoptera)

        • Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

          • Utah Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala utahensis)
          • Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
          • West Coast Lady Butterfly (Vanessa annabella)
          • Nokomis/Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria nokomis nokomis)

        • Gossamerwing / Hairstreak Butterflies (Lycaenidae)

          • Ruddy Copper Butterfly (Tharsalea rubidus)

        • Orange-tip / White / Sulphur Butterflies (Pieridae)

          • Large Marble Butterfly (Euchloe ausonides)

      • Grasshoppers (Orthoptera)

        • Camel Crickets (Rhaphidophoridae)

          • Tanner's Black Camel Cricket (Utabaenetes tanneri)

      • Stoneflies (Plecoptera)

        • Giant Stoneflies (Pteronarcyidae)

          • Giant Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica)

        • Green Stoneflies (Chloroperlidae)

          • Crested Sallfly (Gaufinia cristata)

  • Mollusks (Mollusca)

    Soft bodied animals with an internal or external shell and a toothed tongue or radula. Have a mantle that lines and secretes the shell and a muscular foot that allows for movement.

    • Mussels / Clams (Bivalvia)

      Two hinged lateral shells and a wedged shaped "foot". Bivalves lack tentacles and a head.

      • Mussels (Unionoida)

        • Margaritiferid Mussels (Margaritiferidae)

          • Western Pearlshell (Margaritifera falcata)

        • Unionid Mussels (Unionidae)

          • Winged Floater (Anodonta nuttalliana)

    • Snails / Slugs (Gastropoda)

      Usually have chambered shells.

      • Aquatic Snails (Basommatophora)

        • Fossarias / Pondsnails / Lanxs (Lymnaeidae)

          • Prairie Fossaria (Galba bulimoides)
          • Wrinkled Marshsnail (Stagnicola caperata)
          • [No Common Name] (Galba techella)
          • Fat-whorled Pondsnail (Stagnicola bonnevillensis)
          • Mountain Marshsnail (Stagnicola montanensis)

        • Sprites / Gyros / Rams-horns (Planorbidae)

          • Creeping Ancylid (Ferrissia rivularis)

        • Physas (Physidae)

          • Wet-rock Physa (Physella zionis)

      • Littorinimorpha

        • Amnicolas / Duskysnails (Hydrobiidae)

          • Black Canyon Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis plicata)
          • Sub-globose Snake Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis saxatilis)
          • Otter Creek Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis fusca)
          • Pine Grove Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis pinetorum)
          • Bifid Duct Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis peculiaris)
          • Hamlin Valley Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis hamlinensis)
          • Santa Clara Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis santaclarensis)
          • Northwest Bonneville Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis variegata)
          • Nuwuvi Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis nuwuvi)
          • Desert Springsnail (Pyrgulopsis deserta)
          • Lindahl's Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis lindahlae)
          • Smooth Glenwood Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis chamberlini)
          • Carinate Glenwood Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis inopinata)
          • Bear Lake Springsnail (Pyrgulopsis pilsbryana)
          • Longitudinal Gland Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis anguina)

        • Cochliopidae

          • Desert Tryonia (Tryonia porrecta)

        • Lithoglyphidae

          • Green River Pebblesnail (Fluminicola coloradoensis)

        • Amnicolidae

          • Rocky Mountain Duskysnail (Colligyrus greggi)