Endemic Species of Arkansas: No state-only endemics found
State that the list is empty: No wild animal or plant species are known to be found only inside the political borders of Arkansas.
Define why the criteria creates this result: Understand that state lines are human, not ecological. Species live where habitat and climate allow. Arkansas sits inside larger ecoregions that cross into Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas. Expecting a species to exist only inside one state is rare. Use strict criteria (found nowhere else in the world except inside Arkansas) and the result is an empty list.
Give technical and historical reasons and one clear near-match: Note that taxonomic changes, improved surveys, and shared river and mountain systems mean ranges are often revised or shown to cross borders. Many species are limited to the Ozark Highlands or Ouachita Mountains ecoregions, not the state line. For example, the Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) is a close match: it lives in Ozark streams but occurs in both Arkansas and Missouri. Expect similar near-matches among plants, freshwater mussels, and cave animals that are regional endemics rather than Arkansas-only.
List related categories that do exist and what to explore instead: Focus on useful alternatives. Compile species endemic to the Ozarks or Ouachitas, subspecies or populations mostly in Arkansas, and Arkansas-listed rare, threatened, or endangered species. Consult state and federal resources (Arkansas Natural Heritage Program, NatureServe, USFWS) for range maps and conservation status. Explore those regional and conservation lists instead of a strict “Endemic Species of Arkansas” list.
