Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to 28,670 documented species across 16 categories, including 19 threatened or endangered species and 2806 native species.
Biodiversity Overview
Species by Category
Native vs Non-Native Species
Abundance Distribution
| Abundance Level | Species Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 17,108 | 59.7% |
| NA | 7,328 | 25.6% |
| Rare | 1,564 | 5.5% |
| Common | 1,143 | 4% |
| Uncommon | 1,122 | 3.9% |
| Abundant | 288 | 1% |
Threatened & Endangered Species
Endangered Species List
Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains 19 species with federal threatened or endangered status.
| Species | Category | Status | Nativeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red-cockaded Woodpecker | Bird | EN | Native |
| DUSKYTAIL DARTER | Fish | EN | Native |
| SMOKY MADTOM | Fish | EN | Native |
| Spotfin chub | Fish | NA | Native |
| YELLOWFIN MADTOM | Fish | NA | Native |
| Rusty Patched Bumble Bee | Insect | EN | Unknown |
| Carolina northern flying squirrel | Mammal | EN | Native |
| GRAY MYOTIS, Gray bat | Mammal | EN | Native |
| GRAY WOLF | Mammal | EN | Native |
| Indiana Myotis, Social Bat | Mammal | EN | Native |
| northern Myotis, Keen's Myotis | Mammal | EN | Native |
| Tricolored bat | Mammal | NA | Native |
| Cumberland moccasinshell | Other Non-vertebrates | NA | Unknown |
| Tennessee clubshell | Other Non-vertebrates | NA | Unknown |
| Tennessee pigtoe | Other Non-vertebrates | NA | Unknown |
| NOONDAY HELIX | Slug/Snail | NA | Native |
| NORTH CAROLINA FUNNELWEB TARANTULA | Spider/Scorpion | EN | Native |
| Appalachian Avens | Vascular Plant | EN | Native |
| Virginia Meadowsweet | Vascular Plant | NA | Native |
Conservation Priorities
Of the 28,670 species in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 19 require active conservation management. The most species-rich category is Insect with 12,398 documented species.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many species are in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 28,670 documented species across 16 categories. Insect is the largest category with 12,398 species.
Are there endangered species in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Yes, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to 19 threatened or endangered species requiring conservation management.
What is the most common wildlife category?
The most common category is Insect (12,398 species), followed by Fungi (5,243).
Data Source: National Park Service (NPS) Biodiversity Database.
Last Updated: April 10, 2026