Service Initiates Endangered Species Act Status Review of Eleven Tarantula Species
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Category: WildlifeType: News
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Date: Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013
Contacts:
Claire Cassel
[email protected]
(703) 358-2357
cell: (703) 346-9941
Gooty sapphire ornamental tree spider (Poecilotheria metallica), a species native to India. Credit: William Foster. Some rights reserved.
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The U.S.F.W.S. today announced a positive 90-day finding on a petition to list eleven foreign tarantula species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These species include 6 species native to India (
Poecilotheria formosa, P. hanumavilasumica, P. metallica, P. miranda, P. rufilata, and
P. striata) and 5 species native to Sri Lanka (
P. fasciata, P. ornata, P. pederseni, P. subfusca and
P. smithi). Each of the eleven species is known by multiple common names.
As a result of the positive 90-day finding, the Service will conduct a 12-month status review of the species to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted.
To ensure a comprehensive status review, the Service is soliciting scientific and commercial information from the public regarding these species, in particular their status and threats. Public comments will be accepted on or before February 3, 2014.
For more information on the ESA's petition process, go to
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/listing-petition-process.html
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