There are 9 federally listed endangered species of aquatic animals in the Black Warrior River watershed, and many more that are federally listed as threatened. 

There are three endangered fish: Cahaba shiner (Notropis cahabae), vermillion darter (Etheostoma chermocki), and watercress darter (Etheostoma nuchale). On June 24, 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposed rule to list the rush darter (Etheostoma phytophilum) as endangered throughout its range, which is confined to the Black Warrior River watershed.

There is one endangered snail: plicate rocksnail (Leptoxis ampla).

There are five endangered species of mussels: dark pigtoe (Pleurobema furvum), ovate clubshell (Pleurobema perovatum), southern clubshell (Pleurobema decisum), southern combshell (Epioblasma penita), and triangular kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus greenii)

Among the many threatened animals in the watershed, there is a threatened reptile, the flattened musk turtle (Sternotherus depressus) and an amphibian threatened list candidate species, the Black Warrior waterdog (Necturus alabamensis).

For more information about the threatened and endangered plants and animals of Alabama, visit: http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/stateListingIndividual.jsp?state=AL&status=listed