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)

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

      • Aster/Sunflowers (Asterales)

        • Aster/Sunflowers (Asteraceae)

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

      • Mustards/Capers (Capparales)

        • Mustards (Brassicaceae)

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

        • Capparaceae

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

      • Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)

        • Cactus (Cactaceae)

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

        • Cacaceae

          • Purple-spined Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus relictus)

        • Purslane Family (Portulacaceae)

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

        • Chenopodiaceae

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

      • Peas (Fabales)

        • Pea Family (Fabaceae)

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

      • Dogbane / Gentian / Milkweed (Gentianales)

        • Gentians (Gentianaceae)

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

        • Dogbanes (Apocynaceae)

          • Jones Cycladenia (Cycladenia humilis var. jonesii)

        • Milkweeds (Asclepiadaceae)

          • Welsh's Milkweed (Asclepias welshii)

      • Borage / Mint / Verbena (Lamiales)

        • Borage Family (Boraginaceae)

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

      • Mallow (Malvales)

        • Mallow Family (Malvaceae)

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

      • Evening-primrose / Loosestrife (Myrtales)

        • Evening-primrose Family (Onagraceae)

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

      • Fumary / Poppy (Papaverales)

        • Fumary family (Fumariaceae)

          • Wasatch Fitweed (Corydalis caseana ssp. brachycarpa)

        • Poppy Family (Papaveraceae)

          • Dwarf Bearclaw-poppy (Arctomecon humilis)

      • Buckwheats (Polygonales)

        • Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae)

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

      • Primroses (Primulales)

        • Primrose Family (Primulaceae)

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

      • Barberry / Buttercup (Ranunculales)

        • Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae)

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

      • Buckthorn / Grapes (Rhamnales)

        • Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae)

          • Franklin's Ceanothus (Ceanothus franklinii)

      • Rosales (Rosales)

        • Rose Family (Rosaceae)

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

      • Scrophulariales (Scrophulariales)

        • Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae)

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

        • Broomrape Family (Orobanchaceae)

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

      • Solanales (Solanales)

        • Waterleaf Family (Hydrophyllaceae)

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

      • Violales (Violales)

        • Blazingstar / Stickleaf Family (Loasaceae)

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

        • 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)

        • Vipers (Viperidae)

          • Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus concolor)

        • Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae)

          • Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana)

        • Helodermatidae

          • Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)

    • Amphibians (Amphibia)

      Cold blooded, moist skin

      • Frogs / Toads (Anura)

        • True Frogs (Ranidae)

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

        • True Toads (Bufonidae)

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

    • Birds (Aves)

      Have feathers and lay eggs

      • Hawks / Kites / Eagles (Accipitriformes)

        • Hawks / Kites / Eagles (Accipitridae)

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

      • Vultures / Condors (Cathartiformes)

        • Vultures / Condors (Cathartidae)

          • California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)

      • Shorebirds (Charadriiformes)

        • Avocets (Recurvirostridae)

          • American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

        • Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)

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

        • Plovers (Charadriidae)

          • Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus)

      • Cuckoos (Cuculiformes)

        • Cuckoos (Cuculidae)

          • Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis)

      • Upland Game Birds (Galliformes)

        • Upland Game Birds (Phasianidae)

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

      • Songbirds (Passeriformes)

        • Finches (Fringillidae)

          • Black Rosy-finch (Leucosticte atrata)

        • Thrashers / Mockingbirds / Catbirds (Mimidae)

          • Bendire's Thrasher (Toxostoma bendirei)

        • Jays / Crows / Magpies (Corvidae)

          • Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)

        • New World Sparrows (Passerellidae)

          • Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis)

        • Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

          • Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)

      • Pelicans / Herons / Bitterns / Ibises (Pelecaniformes)

        • Pelicans (Pelecanidae)

          • American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

        • Ibises (Threskiornithidae)

          • White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)

      • Woodpeckers (Piciformes)

        • Woodpeckers (Picidae)

          • Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)

      • Owls (Strigiformes)

        • Owls (Strigidae)

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

    • Mammals (Mammalia)

      Have hair, feed young milk, warm blooded.

      • Carnivores (Carnivora)

        • Weasels (Mustelidae)

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

        • Wolves / Coyotes / Foxes (Canidae)

          • Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis)

      • Bats (Chiroptera)

        • Bats (Vespertilionidae)

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

      • Rabbits / Hares (Lagomorpha)

        • Pikas (Ochotonidae)

          • American Pika (Ochotona princeps)

        • Rabbits (Leporidae)

          • Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)

      • Rodents (Rodentia)

        • Squirrels (Sciuridae)

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

        • Pocket Mice / Kangaroo Rats (Heteromyidae)

          • Dark Kangaroo Mouse (Microdipodops megacephalus)

    • Fish (Actinopterygii)

      Use gills to breathe

      • Minnows / Suckers (Cypriniformes)

        • Leuciscidae

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

        • Suckers (Catostomidae)

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

      • Perch / Sticklebacks (Perciformes)

        • Sculpins (Cottidae)

          • Bear Lake Sculpin (Cottus extensus)

      • Salmon / Trout (Salmoniformes)

        • Trout (Salmonidae)

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

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

        • Andrenidae

          • Mojave Poppy Bee (Perdita meconis)

      • Butterflies / Moths (Lepidoptera)

        • Gossamerwing / Hairstreak Butterflies (Lycaenidae)

          • Ruddy Copper Butterfly (Tharsalea rubidus)

        • Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

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

        • 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)

        • Green Stoneflies (Chloroperlidae)

          • Crested Sallfly (Gaufinia cristata)

        • Giant Stoneflies (Pteronarcyidae)

          • Giant Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica)

  • 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)

        • Unionid Mussels (Unionidae)

          • Winged Floater (Anodonta nuttalliana)

        • Margaritiferid Mussels (Margaritiferidae)

          • Western Pearlshell (Margaritifera falcata)

    • Snails / Slugs (Gastropoda)

      Usually have chambered shells.

      • Aquatic Snails (Basommatophora)

        • Fossarias / Pondsnails / Lanxs (Lymnaeidae)

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

        • Sprites / Gyros / Rams-horns (Planorbidae)

          • Creeping Ancylid (Ferrissia rivularis)

        • Physas (Physidae)

          • Wet-rock Physa (Physella zionis)

      • Littorinimorpha

        • Amnicolas / Duskysnails (Hydrobiidae)

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

        • Amnicolidae

          • Rocky Mountain Duskysnail (Colligyrus greggi)

        • Cochliopidae

          • Desert Tryonia (Tryonia porrecta)

        • Lithoglyphidae

          • Green River Pebblesnail (Fluminicola coloradoensis)