DNR
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In the Elk River Section of the Ozarks Natural Division, located in southwest Missouri, Big Sugar Creek State Park features an array of plants and animals that are less common or absent further into Missouri. Living within these unique natural landscapes is more than 345 different kinds of plants and 134 kinds of birds. Some of the plants and animals found in the park are not found or as widely distributed in other areas of the state. Notable and rare plants found in the park include the Ozark Chinquapin tree, Ozark corn salad wildflower, mock orange (a rare shrub) and low prickly pear cactus. Some of the animals found in the park include armadillos, scarlet tanagers and graybelly salamanders. Below is a complete list of animals and plants observed in Big Sugar Creek State Park.
| Fish | ||
| Central Stoneroller | Redspot Chub | Gravel Chub |
| Bigeye Shiner | Rosyface Shiner | Golden Shiner |
| Northern Hog Sucker | Northern Studfish | Wedgespot Shiner |
| Rock Bass | Longear Sunfish | Southern Redbelly Dace |
| Greenside Darter | Orangethroat Darter | Black Redhorse |
| Banded Scuplin | Green Sunfish | Smallmouth Bass |
| Fantail Darter | Banded Darter | Cardinal Shiner |
| Bigeye Chub | Ozark Minnow | Bluntnose Minnow |
| Slender Madtom | Blackstripe Topminnow | Bluegill |
| Largemouth Bass | Stippled Darter | Freshwater Drum |
| Mammals | ||
| Armadillo | Opossum | Eastern Chipmunk |
| Woodchuck | Eastern Cottontail | Gray Squirrel |
| Fox Squirrel | Flying Squirrel | Beaver |
| Coyote | Gray Fox | Raccoon |
| Mink | Striped Skunk | Bobcat |
| White-tailed Deer |
Fauna
| Reptiles and Amphibians | |
| Central Newt | Dark-sided Salamander |
| Cave Salamander | Graybelly Salamander |
| Oklahoma Salamander | Ozark Zigzag Salamander |
| Slimy Salamander | Grotto Salamander |
| Dwarf American Toad | Blanchard's Cricket Frog |
| Northern Spring Peeper | Bullfrog |
| Green Frog | Southern Leopard Frog |
| Co. Snapping Turtle | Stinkpot |
| Map Turtle | Missouri River Cooter |
| Three-toed Boxturtle | Red-eared Slider |
| Eastern Collared Lizard | Texas Horned Lizard |
| Northern Fence Lizard | Southern Coal Skink |
| Five-lined Skink | Broadhead Skink |
| Ground Skink | Six-lined Racerrunner |
| Western Worm Snake | Eastern Yellow Racer |
| Prairie Ringneck Snake | Great Plains Rat Snake |
| Black Rat Snake | Eastern Hognose Snake |
| Prairie Kingsnake | Speckled Kingsnake |
| Red Milk Snake | Eastern Coachwhip |
| Blotched Water Snake | Diamondback Water Snake |
| Northern Water Snake | Rough Green Snake |
| Ground Snake | Midland Brown Snake |
| Flathead Snake | Eastern Garter Snake |
| Rough Earth Snake |
| Crayfish Species | |
| Northern Crayfish | Ringed Crayfish |
| Neosho Midget Crayfish |
