The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has a mandate to determine the status of species considered to be at risk nationally in Canada.

Reptiles and Amphibians Designated by COSEWIC to be at Risk:

Pygmy short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasi).

Cricket frog (Acris crepitans), Blue Racer (Coluber constrictor foxii), Northern Leopard frog (Rana pipiens) Southern mountain populations, Sharp-tailed snake (Contia tenuis), Lake Erie water snake (Nerodia sipedon insularum), Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

Fowler's toad (Bufo fowleri), Eastern spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifer), Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingi) Nova Scotia population, Eastern Fox snake (Elaphe vulpina gloydi), Queen snake (Regina septemvittata), Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus).

Great Basin Spadefoot toad (Spea intermontana), Great plains toad (Bufo cognatus), Northern Leopard frog (Rana pipiens) Prairie populations, Red-legged frog (Rana aurora), Pacific giant salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus), Smallmouth salamander (Ambystoma texanum), Coeur d'Alene salamander (Plethodon idahoensis), Mountain Dusky salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus), Spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus), Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), Wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta), Northern prairie skink (Eumeces septentrionalis), Five-lined skink (Eumeces fasciatus), Eastern short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma hernandezi), Eastern yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris), Butler's garter snake (Thamnophis butleri), Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos).

Species not at risk: Ensatina ( Ensatina eschscholtzi), Dusky salamander (Desmognathus fuscus), Four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum), Northwestern salamander(Ambystoma gracile), Cope's gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis), Northern Leopard frog (Rana pipiens) Eastern Canadian populations, Western yellow-bellied racer Coluber constrictor mormon)

Candidate species for assessment:

Amphibians
• Under review: Ambystoma tigrinum (Tiger salamander), Ambystoma jeffersonianum (Jefferson salamander), Necturus maculosus (Mudpuppy), Ascaphus truei (Tailed frog), Spea bombifrons (Plains spadefoot toad), Rana pretiosa (Oregon spotted frog), Plethodon vehiculum (Western Redback salamander), Rana luteiventris (Columbia spotted frog), Bufo boreas (Western toad), Bufo hemiophrys (Canadian toad), Pseudacris triseriata (Western Chorus frog).
• To be assessed: Ambystoma texanum (Smallmouth salamander) update.

Reptiles
• Under review: Terrapene carolina (Eastern box turtle), Heterodon nasicus (Western hognose snake), Crotalus viridis (Western rattlesnake), Eumeces skiltonianus (Western skink). Graptemys geographica (Map turtle), Clemmys marmorata (Western pond turtle), Hypsiglena torquata (Night snake), Thamnophis sauritis (Ribbon snake), Pituophis melanoleucus (Gopher snake), Charina bottae (Rubber boa).
• To be assessed: Caretta caretta (Loggerhead turtle), Lepidochelyskempii (Kemp's Ridley turtle), Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill turtle), Chelonia mydas (Green turtle), Crotalus horridus (Timber rattlesnake).

COSEWIC structure and operation.

• Co-Chairs:
  • Dr. Ronald J. Brooks, Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1. phone: (519) 824-4120 ext. 3944. fax: (519) 767-1656. email: rjbrooks@uoguelph.ca
  • Dr. David M. Green, Redpath Museum, McGill University, 859 Sherbrooke St. W. Montréal, Québec H3A 2K6. phone: (514) 398-4086 ext. 4088. fax: (514) 398-3185. email: davidg@shared1.lan.mcgill.ca
• Subcommittee Members:
  • Joel Bonin, St. Lawrence Valley Natural History Society, 21 111 chemin Bord-du-Lac, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 1C0. phone: (514) 274-3120. fax: (514) 492-0137
  • Dr. Tom B. Herman, Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B0P 1X0. phone: (902) 542-2201 ext 1469. fax: (902) 542-3466. email: herman@max.acadiau.ca
  • Laura Friis, Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks780 Blanshard St., Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X5. phone: (604) 356-9145. fax: (604) 387-9755. email: lfriis@fwhdept.env.gov.bc.ca
  • Dr. David A. Galbraith, Canadian Botanical Conservation Network, Royal Botanical Gardens, P.O. Box 399, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3H8. phone: (905) 527-1158 ext. 295.fax: (905) 557-0375. email: david.galbraith@freenet.hamilton.on.ca
  • Dr. Patrick T. Gregory, Department of Biology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2Y2. phone: (604) 721-7103 (lab),721-7091 (office). fax: (604) 721-7120. email: thamnoph@uvvm.uvic.ca
  • Michael Oldham, Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7000, 300 Water St., Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8M5. phone: (705) 755-2501. fax: (705) 755-2168. email: oldhammi@epo.gov.on.ca
  • Don Rivard, Natural Resources Branch, Parks Canada, 25 Eddy St., 4th floor, Hull, Québec K1A 0M5. phone: (819) 953-4444. fax: (819) 997-3380. email: Don_Rivard@pch.gc.ca

COSEWIC Homepage

COSEWIC Subcommittee for Vascular Plants, Mosses and Lichens

COSEWIC Birds Subcommittee

CBIN provides access to a wide variety of information on Canadian biodiversity.

Hinterland Who's Who - Endandered Species (Environment Canada)

Wildlife at Risk

Redpath Museum, McGill University