Hobbies And Interests
Mammals
The endangered mammals of Texas include the ocelot, the jaguarundi, the black-footed ferret and the Mexican long-nosed bat. From the coastal waters also endangered are the humpback and finback whales. The decline of the land mammals is contributed to a loss of habitat, according to the Texas Park Wildlife Department, most often due to urban development and utilization of the land for crops. Additionally, the harvest of agave plants, a food source for the Mexican long-nosed bat, has contributed to its decline. The whales are endangered due to commercial whaling and habitat degradation.
Birds
The endangered status of 11 bird species in Texas is primarily contributed to the loss or destruction of natural habitats or nesting grounds. Some birds--such as the peregrine falcon, the Eskimo curlew and the eastern brown pelican--were hunted or killed until their populations became endangered. Also, the use of DDT and other chemicals used to control other nuisance populations causes a secondary toxicity in birds feeding on the poisoned animals.
Reptiles
Sea turtles are the only reptiles listed on the endangered species lists for Texas. As listed by the Fish and Wildlife department, the hawksbill, leatherback and Kemp's ridley sea turtles are endangered. Their decline to endangered status is primarily attributed to a combination of the harvesting of their eggs and their getting trapped in shrimp trawl nets.
Amphibians and Fish
The Houston toad, desert spring fish, clear creek gambusia and several fish and amphibians from the Edwards Aquifer area are on the endangered list. The Houston toad has been affected by man-made alterations to wetlands, an increase in related toad species that compete for habitat and food, droughts and fire ants that kill the young toads. The Clear Creek gambusia, a small fish, is restricted to spring-fed headwaters of Clear Creek. With natural changes in the habitat, the growth and introduction of other species in the area, the gambusia is compromised. Also affected by introduced species and declining spring-flows and surface water are the Desert Spring fishes. The endangered species in the Edwards Aquifer area rely on clean and continually flowing spring waters. As the quality and quantity of those waters change the Texas blind salamander, San Marcos salamander, the fountain darter and Peck's Cave amphipod (tiny crustacean) will continue to be on the endangered list.
Invertebrates
There are seven endangered karst invertebrates in Texas. Three are insects and the remaining four are arachnids. They all are troglobites with adaptations suited for subterranean environments. Troglobites spend their entire lives underground. Adaptations include elongated appendages and small or missing eyes. The primary threat to these species is the loss of habitat due to urban development.