GTM Research Reserve contains habitat for 48 animal and 8 plant species that are listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern. The 13 miles of beachfront property includes nearly 5 miles of virtually undeveloped Atlantic beach dune habitat. These are among the highest dunes in Florida and are potential habitat for the endangered Anastasia Island beach mouse. Individuals were reintroduced in 1992, but subsequent catch results suggest that the introduction was unsuccessful. The beach habitats also provided nesting sites for the threatened least tern and three species of sea turtles - the loggerhead, the leatherback and the green turtle.

Florida manatees are occasionally observed in Guana River and Pellicer Creek during their seasonal migrations. There are also several active bald eagle nests. The gopher tortoise, a keystone species, lives in several habitats in GTM Research Reserve. Gopher frogs, diamondback terrapins and striped newts also occur within GTM Research Reserve. Additionally, the open-water oceanic habitat of GTM Research Reserve has been identified as critical calving habitat for the North Atlantic right whale.

The wetlands of east St. Johns County are key habitat for rare wading birds, such as the wood stork and the little blue heron. The Twelve Mile Swamp and Snowden drainage basins constitute a Strategic Habitat Conservation Area due to their populations of Florida black bear, American swallow-tailed kite, eastern indigo snake, Bartram's ixia and rare wading birds.

• Listed Species of GTM Research Reserve (pdf - 67 KB)