UNEP-WCMC technical report Review of species which may warrant further consideration in preparation for CoP17 (Version edited for public release) Review of species which may warrant further consideration in 2 preparation for CoP17 Prepared for The European Commission, Directorate General Environment, Directorate E - Global & Regional Challenges, LIFE ENV.E.2. – Global Sustainability, Trade & Multilateral Agreements, Brussels, Belgium Published June 2015 Copyright European Commission 2015 Citation UNEP-WCMC. 2015. Review of species which may warrant further consideration in preparation CoP17. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge. The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the specialist biodiversity assessment of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organization. The Centre has been in operation for over 30 years, combining scientific research with policy advice and the development of decision tools. We are able to provide objective, scientifically rigorous products and services to help decision- makers recognize the value of biodiversity and apply this knowledge to all that they do. To do this, we collate and verify data on biodiversity and ecosystem services that we analyze and interpret in comprehensive assessments, making the results available in appropriate forms for national and international level decision-makers and businesses. To ensure that our work is both sustainable and equitable we seek to build the capacity of partners where needed, so that they can provide the same services at national and regional scales. The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP, contributory organisations or editors. 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To define priorities, the European Commission compiled a selection of species, based largely on Altherr (2014), and initially requested UNEP-WCMC to provide high-level information on these taxa (see UNEP-WCMC, 2015). Based on the information provided in UNEP-WCMC (2015), the Scientific Review Group (SRG) selected a number of these taxa for further review, and Member States identified additional taxa that may warrant further consideration in this context (Paroedura masobe, Gonatodes daudini, Bitis parviocola, Capra caucasica, Tylototriton spp., Nautilus spp., Allonautilus spp., Anguilla rostrata, and Anguilla japonica). Preliminary overviews of relevant data for those species that have been selected for a basic review at this stage are presented in Table 1. Trade information was compiled by TRAFFIC and UNEP- WCMC and provides an overview, but not exhaustive information, of the availability of the species in trade within the European Union (see methodology section). TRAFFIC provided overviews for Nautilus spp. and Allonautilus spp. and provided input to Anguilla japonica and Anguilla rostrata overviews, both of which are primarily based on the IUCN Red List assessments. Member States are invited consider whether any of these taxa may merit further consideration in preparation for the upcoming CoP17. 4 Table 1: Review of species for consideration in preparation for CoP17 Scientific name Distribution Population status Biology Trade Previous CITES/EU Protection status (Common name) and trends discussions Mammalia Bovidae Capra caucasica Western Great Caucasus Categorised as Occurs in the subalpine Overharvesting for food Licenced hunting permitted in (West Caucasian Tur) Mountains of Georgia and Endangered by the IUCN and alpine zones considered a threat and some areas (Weinberg, Russia (Wilson and in 2008 (Weinberg, between 800 and 4,000 caused population 2008). Mittermeier, 2011). 2008). m asl, and undertakes declines (Weinberg, seasonal movements, 2008). High levels of Georgia: Species does not Smallest range in Capra Population estimated at with herd densities poaching in Georgia appear to be protected genus: estimated at 250 5,000-6,000 animals in varying in summer and (Avaliani et al., 2007). (Georgia, 2014), though km in length and 70 km in 2004 (Weinberg, 2004 in winter (various authors in hunting of the species is width (Wilson and Weinberg, 2008), but Weinberg, 2008). Trophy hunting trips reported to be prohibited Mittermeier, 2011). likely to have decreased offered on U.S. and (Avaliani et al., 2007; since then; population Males start mating at six Russian sites, at prices Kopaliani and Gurielidze, decline estimated at years of age while around $10,000- 2009). It is included in >50% over the last three females reproduce at 12,500/trophy. National Biodiversity Strategy generations (Weinberg, three to four years and Action Plan (Kopaliani 2008). (Wilson and Mittermeier, and Gurielidze, 2009). 2011). Sex ratio in favour Classified as Critically of females; one young Russia: national protection Endangered on the born per year (various status unclear. Protected in authors in Weinberg, Russia’s Caucasus Nature national Red List in Georgia (Kopaliani and 2008). Reserve (Bannikov, 1977 in Weinberg, 2008) and a Gurielidze, 2009). number of other reserves (Wilson and Mittermeier, 2011). Reptilia Agamidae Calotes nigrilabris Endemic to Sri Lanka Not yet assessed by Clutches of 2-4 eggs No information was found - In addition to the protection (Black cheeked lizard) (central highlands) IUCN. (Thasun Amarasinghe et reporting trade as a provided in Nature Reserves (Thasun Amarasinghe et al., 2011). threat. and Sanctuaries, the species al., 2011). Classified as is protected, which makes it ‘Endangered’ on the Occurs in tropical moist Offered for sale online in illegal to kill, take or trade the species (Sri Lanka, 2009). national Red List, with an montane forest sites and the EU (Altherr, 2014). extent of occupancy grasslands between 1000 Adult pairs offered on estimated at less than and 2400 m above sea German website by 500 km2 (Ministry of level (Bahir and Italian vendor without Environment Sri Lanka, Surasinghe, 2005). price details; one person 2012). Smaller area of noted having kept the occupancy (about 300 species in the past. km2) estimated by Bahir Scientific name Distribution Population status Biology Trade Previous CITES/EU Protection status (Common name) and trends discussions Calotes nigrilabris and Surasinghe (2005). 5 (Black cheeked lizard) Common but restricted to (cont.) 5 isolated mountain-top sites (Bahir and Surasinghe, 2005); population declining (Karunarathna et al., 2011). Ceratophora stoddartii Endemic to Sri Lanka Not yet assessed by Clutch size of 6-13 eggs No information was found - In addition to the protection (Rhino-horned lizard) (central highlands) (Bahir IUCN. (Pethiyagoda and reporting trade as a provided in Nature Reserves and Surasinghe, 2005). Manamendra-Arachchi, threat. and Sanctuaries, the species Classified as 1998). is protected, which makes it ‘Endangered’ on the Offered for €2200- illegal to kill, take or trade the national Red List, with an Restricted to tropical 2500/pair (Altherr, 2014). species (Sri Lanka, 2009). extent of occupancy moist montane forest Juveniles (reportedly estimated at less than sites between 1200 captive bred in Germany) 500 km2 (Ministry of (Bahir and Surasinghe, offered for $430 (price Environment Sri Lanka, 2005) and 2200m above includes shipping to 2012). Smaller area of sea level U.S.); young adults occupancy (about 200 (Bambaradeniya, 2006). offered for €200 on km2) estimated by Bahir German website from and Surasinghe (2005). Italian vendor; also Uncommon and restricted offered for sale without to >10 isolated mountain- price information; interest top sites (Bahir and expressed by one Danish Surasinghe, 2005). buyer. Cophotis ceylanica Endemic to Sri Lanka Not yet assessed by Viviparous (Manamendra- No information was found - In addition to the protection (Pygmy lizard) (central highlands) (Bahir IUCN. Arachchi et al., 2006) and reporting trade as a provided in Nature Reserves and Surasinghe, 2005)). considered rare (Altherr, threat. and Sanctuaries, the species Classified as 2014). is protected, which makes it ‘Endangered’ on the Offered for sale online in illegal to kill, take or trade the national Red List, with an Restricted to tropical the EU (Altherr, 2014). species (Sri Lanka, 2009). extent of occupancy moist montane forest Reportedly captive-bred estimated at less than sites between 1300 and specimens offered for 500 km2 (Ministry of 2200 m above sea level sale on French and two Environment Sri Lanka, (Bahir and Surasinghe, German websites without 2012). Rare and 2005); according to price details. restricted to 4 isolated Manamendra-Arachchi et mountain-top sites (Bahir