Fauna of Connecticut

The Fauna of Connecticut comprise a variety of animal species.

*The state bird is the American Robin.
*The state insect is the European Mantis.
*The state animal is the Sperm Whale.
*The state shellfish is the Eastern Oyster.
*The state fish is the American Shad.
*The state fossil is the Eubrontes giganteus.

Biodiversity

There are, as of 2004, 256 Connecticut species listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern. These are 11 species of mammals [* [http://dep.state.ct.us/cgnhs/nddb/mammals.htm Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Endangered, Threatened & Special Concern Mammals] ] , 50 species of birds [* [http://dep.state.ct.us/cgnhs/nddb/birds.htm Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Endangered, Threatened & Special Concern Birds] ] , 11 species of reptiles [* [http://dep.state.ct.us/cgnhs/nddb/reptiles.htm Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Endangered, Threatened & Special Concern Reptiles] ] , 7 species of amphibians [* [http://dep.state.ct.us/cgnhs/nddb/amphib.htm Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Endangered, Threatened & Special Concern Amphibians] ] , 7 species of fish [* [http://dep.state.ct.us/cgnhs/nddb/fish.htm Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Endangered, Threatened & Special Concern Fish] ] , and 170 species of invertebrates [* [http://dep.state.ct.us/cgnhs/nddb/invert.htm Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Endangered, Threatened & Special Concern Invertebrates] ] .

Ancient life

Notable sites preserving the prehistoric history of Connecticut include the Peabody Museum of Natural History and Dinosaur State Park.

Extinct species that once roamed Connecticut include Coelophysis [* [http://www.casdn.neu.edu/~geology/department/staff/colgan/dinos/dino.htm Age of Dinosaurs Field Trip] ] , Dilophosaurus [* [http://www.casdn.neu.edu/~geology/department/staff/colgan/dinos/dino.htm Age of Dinosaurs Field Trip] ] , and Eubrontes [* [http://www.ctheritage.org/encyclopedia/topicalsurveys/geography.htm Aspects of Connecticut's Physical Geography] ] .

List of native species

Sources appear below. [ [http://qrwgis.newhaven.edu/saraEIS/sld007.htm University of New Haven Student Projects - "Potential Impacts of the Proposed Galleria at Long Wharf on the Biological, Chemical, and Socioeconomic Aspects of the Local New Haven Environment" - Slide 7: Species List] , by Sara Ignudo and Farah Refai, Fall 2000]

Annelids

* Ampharete arctica
* Capitella capitata
* Capitellidae
* Eteone lactea
* Glycera dibranchiata
* Nereis succinea
* Ophelia sp.
* Phyllodoce sp.
* Polydora sp.
* Scoloplos robustus
* Spio setosa
* Spionidae
* Streblospio benedicti
* Syllidae sp.

Arthropods

* Chiridotea s p p.
* Gammarus sp.
* Neomysis americana
* Sphaeroma quadridentata

Mollusks

* Acteocina canaliculata
* Gemma gemma
* Nassarius obsoletus
* Mulinia lateralis
* Mya arenaria
* Nucula sp.
* Periploma papyratium
* Retusa canaliculata
* Tellina agillis

Further reading

* [http://www.ctheritage.org/encyclopedia/topicalsurveys/geography.htm Aspects of Connecticut's Physical Geography]
* [http://www.ctaudubon.org/ Connecticut Audubon Society]
* [http://dep.state.ct.us/cgnhs/nddb/nddb2.htm Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Natural Diversity Data Base]
* [http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/fish.html Fishes of the Connecticut River]
* [http://www.branfordlandtrust.org/branfordff.html The Flora and Fauna of Branford]

References

ee also

* Flora of Connecticut
* List of Connecticut birds
* List of mammals in Connecticut
* Mammals of New England