Iowa’s short list of federally protected endangered species is in line to nearly double.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently listed a moth-like butterfly, the Poweshiek skipperling, as a candidate for the federal endangered species list.

Early this year, the agency also formally proposed endangered status for two types of freshwater clams, the sheepnose and spectaclecase mussels. And two other species already were on its lists of candidates for the endangered list: the massasauga rattlesnake and the Dakota skipper, a butterfly.

The 16 species proposed to be removed from the list are the greater redhorse, a small fish; the barn owl, snowy egret, and Bewick's Wren, the Pygmy Snaketail, a dragonfly, and two reptiles: Butler's Gartersnake and the Blanding's Turtle.

A Department of Natural Resources Blanding's Turtle review determined that there are large, stable populations and wide distribution throughout the state. In the case of Butler's Gartersnake, new information indicated greater abundance and range in the state than previously believed.

“Genetic analysis done by UW-Stevens Point researchers concluded that hybridization is not a threat to the species,” said Laurie Osterndorf, who directs DNR's Endangered Resources Bureau.