22 plants and animals added to Massachusetts endangered species list

An Eastern prickly pear plant lay in the snow on the South Shore on Feb. 11. The plant has been added to the state's endangered species list.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

Twenty-two new plants and animals were added to the state’s endangered species list last year, bringing the total to 453 native animals and plants protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, officials said.

“None of the new 22 species that were recently added have been on the list before,” Nicole McSweeney, a spokesperson for MassWildlife, said by email.

MassWildlife updated the list of plants and animals protected by the legislation after “an extensive review of population data and threats,” officials said in a statement.

“All listed species receive the same protection, but they are categorized as endangered, threatened, or of special concern — depending on their status and the threats they face,” officials said.

One plant — Ogden’s pondweed — was taken off the list, and the status of the Appalachian bristle fern was lowered from “endangered,” to “of special concern.”

The status of slender bladderwort went from “of special concern” to “threatened,” officials said.

The list of protected plants and animals must be reviewed at least every five years, and the status of a species may change due to a number of factors, including reproductive and population status, and trends within the state; species’ habitat requirements and vulnerability to threats to its habitat; geographic and genetic distribution within the state; rarity of the species and its habitats, or emerging diseases and infections, officials said.

“Ensuring that the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list reflects the latest science allows us to better protect and manage our most vulnerable plants and animals,” Rebecca Quiñones, conservation science program manager for MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, said in a statement. “Ongoing research enables us to monitor populations, address threats, and implement efforts to effectively conserve our biodiversity.”

The state maintains an interactive map where people can view sightings of protected species at www.mass.gov/info-details/rare-species-viewer.

Below are the species that were added to the state’s endangered species list.

Mammals

Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) Status: Special concern

Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) Status: Special concern

Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) Status: Special concern

Butterflies and moths

Golden borer moth (Papaipema cerina) Status: Endangered

Acadian hairstreak butterfly (Satyrium acadica) Status: Threatened

Bees

Parnassia miner bee (Andrena parnassiae) Status: Threatened

Macropis cuckoo bee (Epeoloides pilosulus) Status: Threatened

Plants

Bog sedge (Carex exilis) Status: Threatened

Willdenow’s sedge (Carex willdenowii) Status: Endangered

Split-leaved hawthorn (Crataegus schizophylla) Status: Endangered

Pine barrens flatsedge (Cyperus retrorsus) Status: Special concern

Frog orchid (Dactylorhiza viridis) Status: Endangered

Velvet rosette-grass (Dichanthelium scoparium) Status: Endangered

Showy orchid (Galearis spectabilis) Status: Threatened

Loesel’s wide-lipped orchid (Liparis loeselii) Status: Threatened

Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) Status: Special concern

Winged loosestrife (Lythrum alatum) Status: Endangered

Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia cespitosa) Status: Endangered

Hooker’s orchid (Platanthera hookeri) Status: Endangered

Large-leaved orchid (Platanthera macrophylla) Status: Threatened

Round-leaved orchid (Platanthera orbiculata) Status: Threatened

Slender clubmoss (Pseudolycopodiella caroliniana) Status: Endangered