Endemic Species

Catalina has at least 22 endemic species and subspecies: six plants and sixteen animals.  They are listed below:

Fauna

Mammals

Beechey ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi nesioticus)
Santa Catalina island fox (Urocyon littoralis catalinae)
Santa Catalina island deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus catalinae)
Santa Catalina island harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis catalinae)
Santa Catalina island shrew (Sorex ornatus willetti)

Birds

Bewick’s wren (Thryomanes bewickii catalinae)
California quail (Callipepla californica catalinensis)
Hutton’s vireo (Vireo huttoni unitti)

Invertebrates

Avalon hairstreak butterfly (Strymon avalona)
Scarab beetle (Coenonycha clypeata)
Scarab beetle (Coenonycha fulva)
Scarab beetle (Phobetus ciliatus)
Scarab beetle (Serica catalina)
Walkingstick (Pseudosermyle catalina)
Catalina shield-back cricket (Neduba propsti)
Catalina orangetip (Anthocharis cethura catalina)

Flora

Catalina manzanita (Arctostaphylos catalinae)
Trask’s mahogany (Cercocarpus traskiae)
Catalina dudleya (Dudleya hassei)
St. Catherine’s lace (Eriogonum giganteum var. giganteum)
Santa Catalina bedstraw (Galium catalinense ssp. catalinense)
Santa Catalina Island ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. floribundus)

In addition, two other taxa have previously been considered Catalina endemics and have the potential to be recognized as such again:

Wallace’s nightshade (Solanum wallacei var. wallacei)
Trask’s yerba santa (Eriodictyon traskiae var. traskiae)

Trask’s monkeyflower (Mimulus traskiae) was another plant restricted to Catalina Island, however it is presumed extinct. 

Significant Ecological Areas

Los Angeles County (Regional Planning Department) defines significant ecological areas (SEA) areas as "ecologically important or fragile land and water areas, valuable as plant and animal communities. These areas are classified as one or more of the following: 1) habitats for rare and endangered species of plants and animals; 2) restricted natural communities - ecological areas which are scarce on a regional basis; 3) habitat restricted in distribution in the county; 4) breeding or nesting grounds; 5) unusual biotic communities; 6) sites with critical wildlife and fish value; and 7) relatively undisturbed habitat."  Thirty-two SEA’s are defined on Catalina Island, in such areas as the windward beaches, Middle Canyon, Blackjack and Orizaba Mountains area, Avalon Canyon, Gallagher’s Canyon, and the West End.  These areas are based on recommendations by botanist Robert Thorne, and are very general locations, drawn with a “broad brush.”