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List of fauna of Michigan facts for kids

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Welcome to a list of amazing animals found in the U.S. state of Michigan! This includes creatures that live only in Michigan and those that can be found in many other places too. If you're curious about animals that need special protection in Michigan, you can also check out the List of threatened fauna of Michigan.

Invertebrates: Animals Without Backbones

Invertebrates are animals that don't have a backbone. This huge group includes everything from tiny jellyfish to busy insects and slimy snails.

Jellyfish and Friends (Cnidaria)

  • Craspedacusta sowerbyi: This is a type of freshwater jellyfish. It's quite small and clear, so it can be hard to spot in Michigan's lakes and ponds!

Creepy Crawlies (Arthropods)

Arthropods are animals with an exoskeleton (a hard outer shell) and jointed legs. This group includes insects, spiders, and crustaceans.

Spiders and Their Relatives (Arachnids)

  • European garden spider: You might see this spider building its big, round web in gardens.
  • Misumenops celer: This is a type of crab spider, often found on flowers waiting for insects.

Crabs, Crayfish, and More (Crustaceans)

Crustaceans are mostly water-dwelling arthropods.

  • Armadillidium vulgare (common pillbug): These little creatures roll into a ball when they feel threatened, just like a pill!
  • Cambarus diogenes (chimney crayfish): This crayfish builds tall mud "chimneys" near its burrow.
  • Cambarus robustus (big water crayfish): A larger type of crayfish found in Michigan's waters.
  • Creaserinus fodiens (digger crayfish): This crayfish is known for digging burrows.
  • Faxonius immunis (calico crayfish): This crayfish has a spotted, or "calico," pattern.
  • Faxonius propinquus (northern clearwater crayfish): Often found in clear streams and lakes.
  • Faxonius rusticus (rusty crayfish): This crayfish is an invasive species, meaning it's not originally from Michigan and can harm the local environment.
  • Faxonius virilis (northern crayfish): A common crayfish species in the northern parts of Michigan.
  • Procambarus acutus acutus (white river crawfish): Another type of crayfish found in Michigan.

Insects

Insects are the largest group of arthropods. They have six legs, a body divided into three parts, and usually wings.

Beetles (Coleoptera)
  • Brychius hungerfordi: A rare diving beetle found in specific Michigan habitats.
  • Cicindela sexguttata: Also known as the six-spotted tiger beetle, it's a fast hunter.
  • Colorado potato beetle: This beetle is known for eating potato plants.
  • Desmocerus palliatus: The elderberry borer, a colorful beetle.
  • Harmonia axyridis: The multicolored Asian lady beetle, often seen in homes.
  • Megacyllene robiniae: The locust borer, which targets black locust trees.
  • Neandra brunnea: A type of longhorn beetle.
  • Rhyssomatus lineaticollis: A weevil that feeds on milkweed.
Flies (Diptera)
Mantises (Dictyoptera)
  • Chinese mantis (introduced): This large praying mantis was brought to Michigan from other parts of the world.
True Bugs (Hemiptera)
  • Adelphocoris lineolatus: The alfalfa plant bug.
  • Green stink bug: Known for releasing a bad smell when disturbed.
  • Large milkweed bug: Often found on milkweed plants.
Ants, Bees, and Wasps (Hymenoptera)
  • Dolichovespula maculata: The bald-faced hornet, known for its large paper nests.
  • Polistes dominulus: The European paper wasp, an introduced species.
  • Polistes exclamans: A type of paper wasp.
  • Polistes fuscatus: The dark paper wasp.
  • Polistes metricus: Another common paper wasp.
  • Vespa crabro: The European hornet, a large wasp.
  • Vespula maculifrons: The eastern yellowjacket, a common stinging wasp.
Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera)
Main article: List of butterflies and moths of Michigan

Michigan is home to many beautiful butterflies and moths, from tiny ones to large, colorful species.

Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)
  • Blue dasher: A common and colorful dragonfly.
  • Erythemis simplicicollis: The eastern pondhawk, a green dragonfly.
  • Green darner: A large, fast-flying dragonfly.
  • Ischnura posita: The fragile forktail, a small damselfly.
  • Lestes vigilax: The swamp spreadwing, a damselfly found near wetlands.
  • Sympetrum vicinum: The autumn meadowhawk, often seen in late summer and fall.
  • Variable dancer: A damselfly with varying colors.
Grasshoppers and Crickets (Orthoptera)
  • Differential grasshopper: A large grasshopper common in open areas.
  • Gryllus pennsylvanicus: The fall field cricket, known for its chirping sounds.
  • Barrens or spotted-winged grasshopper: A grasshopper found in sandy or open habitats.
  • Spur-throat grasshopper: Named for a small spur on its throat.
  • Blue-legged locust: A type of grasshopper.
  • Hebard's green-legged locust: Another type of locust.
  • Hoosier locust: A locust species.
  • Atlantic-coast or long-horned grasshopper: A grasshopper with long antennae.
  • Lake Huron locust: A locust found near Lake Huron.
  • Secretive locust: A less commonly seen locust.
  • Post-oak grasshopper: Found in areas with oak trees.
  • Ceuthophilus silvestris: A type of camel cricket.
  • Ceuthophilus uhleri: Another camel cricket species.
  • Woodland meadow katydid: A katydid found in wooded meadows.
  • Bog conehead: A katydid with a cone-shaped head, found in bogs.
  • Neoconocephalus retusus: The round-tipped conehead katydid.
  • Eelicate meadow katydid: A delicate-looking katydid.
  • Pine katydid: Found in pine forests.
  • Davis's shield-bearer: A large katydid.
  • Melodious ground cricket: A cricket known for its pleasant chirping.
  • Tamarack tree cricket: Found in tamarack trees.
  • Pine tree cricket: Lives in pine trees.

Springtails (Entognatha)

  • Willowsia nigromaculata: A common springtail, tiny creatures often found in soil or decaying matter.

Snails and Clams (Molluscs)

Molluscs are soft-bodied animals, many of which have shells.

  • Planogyra asteriscus (eastern flat-whorl): A very small land snail with a flat, coiled shell.
  • Giant floater (Pyganodon grandis): A large freshwater mussel found in lakes and rivers.
  • Northern riffleshell (Epioblasma torulosa): A freshwater mussel that is endangered.
  • Quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis): An invasive species that can cause problems in Michigan's waterways.
  • Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha): Another invasive species, known for attaching to surfaces and clogging pipes.

Vertebrates: Animals With Backbones

Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone or spine. This group includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Frogs, Toads, and Salamanders (Amphibians)

Main article: List of amphibians of Michigan

Michigan's amphibians live part of their lives in water and part on land. They include many types of frogs, toads, and salamanders.

Birds

Michigan is a great place for birdwatching, with many different species flying through its skies, nesting in its forests, and wading in its waters. You can find a much longer list at Michigan Breeding birds Atlas, Appendix 3.

Turkeys in Clyde
Wild turkeys in Clyde are large, ground-dwelling birds.
Sialia sialis -Michigan, USA -pair-8c
Eastern bluebirds are known for their bright blue feathers.
Grus canadensis -Michigan, USA-8
Sandhill cranes are tall birds with a distinctive call.
Dendroica kirtlandii -Michigan, USA -male-8 (5)
The Kirtland's warbler is a rare bird that nests mainly in Michigan.
Cygnus olor -Michigan, USA -head-8
Mute swans are large, graceful birds often seen on Michigan's lakes.
Picoides pubescens -Michigan, USA -male-8
Downy woodpeckers are small birds that peck at trees for food.

Birds That Are No Longer Here (Extinct)

  • Passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius): Once very common, these birds are now extinct.
  • Heath hen (Tympanuchus cupido cupido): A type of grouse that is now extinct.
  • Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis): The only native parrot species in the eastern U.S., now extinct.

Fish

Michigan is known for its many lakes and rivers, which are home to a wide variety of fish, from tiny minnows to large game fish.

Fish That Are No Longer Here (Extinct)

Mammals

Michigan is home to many different kinds of mammals, from tiny mice to large deer and bears.

Squirrel 002
Fox squirrels are common in Michigan and are known for their bushy tails.
Muskrat Michigan
Muskrats are semi-aquatic rodents often seen in wetlands.
Gray Wolf Seney NWR 2
Wolves can be found in Michigan, especially in the Upper Peninsula.
White-tailed Buck in a Wooded Area Kensington Metropark Michigan
White-tailed deer are very common throughout Michigan.

Snakes, Turtles, and Lizards (Reptiles)

Main article: List of reptiles of Michigan

Michigan's reptiles include various snakes, turtles, and a few types of lizards. They are cold-blooded animals, meaning their body temperature depends on their surroundings.

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List of fauna of Michigan Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.