Animals and Plants of the Region

The Southeastern United States is a worldwide center for biological diversity. Geography, climate, and geologic history combine in the Southeastern U.S. to provide unique habitats varying from high elevation boreal forests in the Appalachian Mountains to coastal wetlands and estuaries.

The diverse habitats of the Southeastern U.S. provide for equally diverse plant and animal species assemblages among amphibians, birds, fishes, invertebrates, mammals, plants, and reptiles. More information about each of these groups of animals is presented below.

Thumbnail image of Ocoee salamander (Desmognathus ocoee). [Image modified from USGS ARMI photo by J.D. Willson, Savannah River Ecology Lab, retrieved from http://armi.usgs.gov/gallery/detail.php?search=ALL&subsearch=&id=335 April 7, 2008] Amphibians
The Southeastern U.S is home to a wide variety of amphibians. It is a world center of diversity for salamanders.
Thumbnail image of Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor). [Image modified from U.S. FWS photo by Steve Maslowski, retrieved from http://images.fws.gov/default.cfm?fuseaction=records.display&CFID=9436489&CFTOKEN=28865327&id=13AD1C9D%2DA156%2D48F2%2DAA0CA70EC606493F April 7, 2008] Birds
The Southeastern U.S. hosts many year-round and migratory bird populations.
Banded Topminnow (Fundulus cingulatus ) [Photo: Howard Jelks, U.S. Geological Survey] Fishes
Freshwater and marine habitats of the region contain many unique fish species.
Thumbnail image of Devil crayfish (Cambarus diogenes) Invertebrates
Learn about freshwater and terrestrial invertebrates of the Southeastern U.S.
Thumbnail image of Black Bear (Ursus Americanus). [Image modified from U.S. FWS photo by Terry Spivey, retrieved from http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1374241 April 7, 2008.] Mammals
The Southeastern U.S. is home to over 100 species of native mammals.
Thumbnail image of Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and fly poison, (Amianthium muscitoxicum) blooms.  [Image modified from U.S NPS photo by John F. Mitchell, retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/archive/shen/pphtml/photogallery.html April 8, 2008.] Plants
Learn about regional trees, shrubs, grasses, mosses, and other plant life here.
Thumbnail image of Alligator Snapping Turtle   (Macrochelys temminckii).   [Image modified from U.S FWS photo by Gary M. Stolz, retrieved from http://www.fws.gov/dls/default.cfm?fuseaction=records.display&CFID=723597&CFTOKEN=36349205&id=56E5B28E%2DB188%2D4312%2D910E4DB58ADF564A April 8, 2008.] Reptiles
The diverse habitats in the Southeastern U.S. provide home to lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises, and crocodilians.

Resources for Animal and Plant Images
Are you looking for images of plants and animals of the Southeastern U.S.? Finding accurately identified images of animals and plants can be challenging, but this site can help you. From the navigation menu at left, visit the "Resources for Animal and Plant Images" page to find image galleries and photo collections from government and academic sources.

Species in Need of Conservation
For amphibians, birds, fishes, mammals, and reptiles, this site provides information for species in the Southeastern U.S. in need of conservation. These species include amphibians, birds, fishes, mammals, and reptiles identified by Southeastern U.S. state wildlife agencies as species of Greatest Conservation Need (GCN) in the state Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies (CWCS), also called State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAP).

This site provides interactive species information for Southeast amphibian, bird, fish, mammal, and reptile species in greatest conservation need. The interactive, searchable species information combines resources from multiple sources including NatureServe and ITIS.

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