Fast Facts : Endangered Species

Seen an unarmored threespine stickleback lately? Chances are you haven’t. The freshwater fish is one of 19 plants, 12 birds, three insects, two reptiles, two mammals and three fish that are endangered (close to extinction) or threatened (becoming dangerously scarce) in Los Angeles County, according to the California Department of Fish and Game. Here’s a partial roll call:

* Beldings Savannah sparrow

STATUS: 4,000, up 10% from 1980 count

HABITAT: Hills north of Marina del Rey

PROSPECTS: Uncertain; land is scheduled for development.

* California least tern

STATUS: 3,660, up from 1,200 in 1970.

HABITAT: Marina del Rey Channel, Ballona Lagoon and Terminal Island.

PROSPECTS: Promising, thanks to habitat restoration and lagoon-recovery efforts.

* El Segundo blue butterfly

STATUS: 10,000, up from 400 in 1984.

HABITAT: Found exclusively in the dunes west of LAX.

PROSPECTS: The tremendous recovery of the butterfly is attributed to the rehabilitation of the dunes habitat and restricted public access.

* San Clemente Bush Mallow flowering plant

STATUS: Near extinction on San Clemente Island.

HABITAT: Formerly unique to San Clemente Island; some have been transplanted to other Channel Islands.

PROSPECTS: Encouraging results since relocation.

* Slender-Horned Spineflower

STATUS: Extreme scarcity of plant makes an accurate count impossible.

HABITAT: Northeast of the Foothill Freeway in Big Tujunga Wash; only one of six habitats in the world.

PROSPECTS: Uncertain. An impending court battle will decide whether development will be allowed in the area.