© Bruce McNitt/Panoramic Images (Virginia)
Featured Animals in Virginia
© JAMES L. STANFIELD Featured Animals in Virginia Image
Virginia supports a rich diversity of animals -- some 737 species of vertebrates had been identified as occuring in the state. While there is no accurate count of invertebrates, one conservative estimate places the number at 30,000 terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates species.
When compared with other states in the U. S., Virginia is a clear standout for biodiversity. For overall native species diversity, the Commonwealth ranks 10th for vertebrates and 8th in the U.S. for globally rare animals. The Southern Appalachians, which includes southwest Virginia, was identified as one of six biodiversity hotspots in the United States in Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States (2000). The nation's leading hotspot of aquatic diversity is Virginia's Clinch and Powell rivers, and Virginia is ranked second in the U. S. for dragonfly diversity.
Profiles of Virginia Animals
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American Oystercatcher
The American oystercatcher is a large, noisy, thick-bodied shorebird of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts whose large red bill, red eye ring, and red eyes make it easily recognizable.
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Appalachian Monkeyface Pearly Mussel
The Appalachian Monkeyface Pearly Mussel is an imperiled bivalve whose remnant populations in Virginia remain in the Clinch and Powell rivers.
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Candy Darter
This small but striking fish is endemic to the drainage of the New River and occupies the Valley and Ridge Province of Virginia and West Virginia and the Appalachian Plateau of West Virginia.
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Eastern Box Turtle
Named for a hinged underside that enables it to completely withdraw into and close its shell, the eastern box turtle is found throughout Virginia and has been known to live longer than humans.
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Eastern Hellbender
Because of its preference for clean streams and rivers, the eastern hellbender serves as an effective indicator of stream health, with the presence of young and adults synonymous with good water quality.
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Lee County Cave Isopod
The Lee County cave isopod is a small freshwater crustacean discovered by John Holsinger and William Mauck in 1961. In 1992, the Lee County cave isopod was listed as endangered. The species is considered both globally and state imperiled due to its extremely small range and small population.
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Mole Salamander
The range of this short, stout amphibian is limited to Charlotte, Campbell, and Appomattox counties in Virginia.
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Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle
The northeastern species of this large, attractive cream-colored beetle is considered imperiled by both federal and state agencies. Conservation efforts seek to protect it where it roams beaches along the Chesapeake Bay and parts of the Atlantic Coast.
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