Montana Species of Special Concern
Previously, Montana Animal Species of Concern (MASC) lists were created and managed separately among state and federal agencies and professional organizations. In an effort to combine the lists and eliminate confusion for the public and management agencies, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) and the Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) formed a partnership to manage species’ data and ultimately determine the status of MASC. The MTNHP ranking system follows and international ranking system developed by the Nature Conservancy (see below). The ranking system includes both State and Global ranks which follow parallel criteria applied to each species. The NHP Ranking System is based on occurrences, abundances, range, trends and threats. The current listings were developed by the Montana Species of Special Concern Committee, which includes staff of MTNHP and MFWP, representatives of the Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society and the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, and biologists with knowledge of specific taxa. Inclusion on the list is based on information in the scientific literature, unpublished reports, agency databases, field research, and field inventories.
Heritage Program Ranks
Species have been evaluated and ranked on the basis of their global (range-wide) status, and their statewide status, using the standardized ranking system of the Natural Heritage Network (Association for Biodiversity Information 2001). For a more detailed description of the MTNHP ranking system visit the Montana Natural Heritage Program web site.
Species are assigned ranks ranging from 1 (highest concern) to 5 (lowest concern). Rank definitions are given below.
|
Global/State Rank |
Definition (G = Range-wide; S = Montana) |
| G1/S1 |
Critically imperiled because of extreme rarity or because of some factor(s) of its biology making it especially vulnerable to extinction. |
| G2/S2 |
Imperiled because of rarity or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. |
| G3/S3 |
Either very rare and local throughout its range, or found locally (even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range, or vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors. |
| G4/S4 |
Apparently secure, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. |
| G5/S5 |
Demonstrably secure, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. |
| GU/SU |
Possibly in peril, but status uncertain; more information needed. |
| GH/SH |
Historically known; may be rediscovered. |
| GX/SX |
Believed to be extinct; historical records only. |
| G#/S# |
Indicates a range of uncertainty about the rarity of the species. |
Other
codes:
| A |
Accidental in the state; including species (usually birds or butterflies) recorded very infrequently, hundreds or thousands of miles outside their usual range. |
| B | A state rank modifier indicating breeding status for a migratory species. Example: S1B,SZN -- breeding occurrences for the species are ranked S1 (critically imperiled) in the state, nonbreeding occurrences are not ranked in the state. |
| E | An exotic established in the state; may be native in nearby regions. |
| HYB | A hybrid of species. |
| N | A state rank modifier indicating non-breeding status for a migratory species. Example: S1B,SZN -- breeding occurrences for the species are ranked S1 (critically imperiled) in the state; nonbreeding occurrences are not ranked in the state. |
| P | Indicates the element may potentially occur in the state. |
| Q | Taxonomic questions or problems involved, more information needed; appended to the global rank. |
| R | Reported in the state, but lacking documentation that would provide a basis for either accepting or rejecting the report. |
| T | Rank for a subspecific taxon (subspecies, variety, or population); appended to the global rank for the full species. |
| Z | Ranking not applicable. |
| # | A modifier to SX or SH; the species has been reintroduced but the population is not yet established. |
| ? | Inexact or uncertain: for numeric ranks, denotes inexactness. |
A number of factors are considered when assigning ranks including the number, size, and distribution of known populations, trends (if known), habitat sensitivity, and life history factors which make species especially vulnerable. For example, the Spoonhead sculpin (Cottus ricei), G5 / S3, is demonstrably secure range-wide but is found locally within a restricted range in Montana.
MTAFS Rankings (Holton 1980)
Class A
Species or subspecies that has limited numbers and/or habitats both in Montana and elsewhere in North America; and elimination from Montana would be a significant loss to the gene pool of the species or subspecies.
Class
B
Species or subspecies that has limited numbers and/or habitats in Montana; is fairly widespread and has fair numbers in North America as a whole; and elimination from Montana would be at least a moderate loss to the gene pool of the species or subspecies.
Class
C
Species or subspecies that has limited numbers and/or habitats in Montana; widespread and numerous in North America as a whole; and elimination from Montana would be only a minor loss to the gene pool of the species or subspecies.
The rankings of Montana fish species of special concern under the MTNHP ranking system
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Global Rank | State Rank | Class |
| Blue Sucker |
Cycleptus elongatus |
G4 |
S2 |
B |
| Bull Trout |
Salvelinus confluentus |
G3 |
S2 |
A |
| Columbia River Redband Trout |
Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri |
G5T4 |
S1 |
A |
| Montana Arctic Grayling |
Thymallus arcticus montanus |
G5T1Q |
S1 |
A |
| N. Redbelly X Finescale Dace |
Phoxinus eos x phoxinus neogaeus |
HYB |
S3 |
C |
| Paddlefish |
Polyodon spathula |
G4 |
S1S2 |
A |
| Pallid Sturgeon |
Scaphirhynchus albus |
G1 |
S1 |
A |
| Pearl Dace |
Semotilus margarita |
G5 |
S2 |
C |
| Sauger |
Stizostedion canadense |
G5 |
S2 |
B |
| Shortnose Gar |
Lepisosteus platostomus |
G5 |
S1 |
C |
| Sicklefin Chub |
Macrohybopsis meeki |
G3 |
S1 |
B |
| Spoonhead Sculpin |
Cottus ricei |
G5 |
S3? |
C |
| Sturgeon Chub |
Macrohybopsis gelida |
G2 |
S2 |
B |
| Torrent Sculpin |
Cottus rhotheus |
G5 |
S3? |
C |
| Trout-perch |
Percopsis omiscomaycus |
G5 |
S2 |
C |
| Westslope Cutthroat Trout |
Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi |
G4T3 |
S2 |
A |
| White Sturgeon |
Acipenser transmontanus |
G4T1Q |
S1 |
A |
| Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout | Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri | G4T2 | S2 | A |
|
Species on Review |
||||
| Shorthead Sculpin |
Cottus confusus |
G5 |
SU |
|
| Brook Stickleback |
Culaea inconstans |
G5 |
SU |
|
| Iowa Darter |
Etheostoma exile |
G5 |
SU |
|
| Brassy Minnow |
Hybognathus hankinsoni |
G5 |
SU |
|
| Plains Minnow |
Hybognathus placitus |
G5 |
SU |
|
| Burbot |
Lota lota |
G5 |
SU |
|
| Northern Redbellied Dace |
Phoxinus eos |
G5 |
SU |
|
| Pygmy Whitefish |
Prosopium coulteri |
G5 |
SU |
|
| Creek Chub | Semotilus atromaculatus | G5 | SU | |
