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Endangered Species Status for Five Poecilotheria Tarantula Species

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Endangered Species Status for Five Poecilotheria Tarantula Species Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 36755 [FR Doc. 2018–16266 Filed 7–30–18; 8:45 am] What this document does. This rule warranted, (2) requested from the public BILLING CODE 6560–50–P will add the following five tarantula scientific and commercial data and species to the List of Endangered and other information regarding the species, Threatened Wildlife in title 50 of the and (3) notified the public that at the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR conclusion of our review of the status of 17.11(h)) as endangered species: these species, we would issue a 12- Fish and Wildlife Service Poecilotheria fasciata, P. ornata, P. month finding on the petition, as smithi, P. subfusca, and P. vittata. provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act. 50 CFR Part 17 The basis for our action. Under the We published a 12-month finding and Act, we use the best available scientific proposed rule for listing the five [Docket No. FWS–HQ–ES–2016–0076; and commercial data to determine Poecilotheria species that are endemic 4500030115] whether a species meets the definition to Sri Lanka (Poecilotheria fasciata, P. RIN 1018–BC82 of a ‘‘threatened species’’ or an ornata, P. pederseni, P. smithi, and P. ‘‘endangered species’’ because of any subfusca) on December 14, 2016 (81 FR Endangered and Threatened Wildlife one or more of the following five factors 90297). In our 12-month finding and and Plants; Endangered Species or the cumulative effects thereof: (A) proposed rule we determined that these Status for Five Poecilotheria Tarantula The present or threatened destruction, five species were in danger of extinction Species From Sri Lanka modification, or curtailment of its throughout their ranges and proposed habitat or range; (B) Overutilization for listing them as endangered under the AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, commercial, recreational, scientific, or Interior. Act. We requested input from the educational purposes; (C) Disease or public, range country, other interested ACTION: Final rule. predation; (D) The inadequacy of parties, and peer reviewers during a 60- existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and day public comment period that ended Other natural or manmade factors February 13, 2017. Wildlife Service (Service), determine affecting its continued existence. We endangered species status under the have determined on the basis of the best Summary of Changes From the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as available scientific and commercial data Proposed Rule amended, for the following five that P. fasciata, P. ornata, P. smithi, P. In preparing this final rule, we tarantula species from Sri Lanka: subfusca, and P. vittata are in danger of Poecilotheria fasciata, P. ornata, P. reviewed and fully considered extinction because of ongoing habitat comments from the public and peer smithi, P. subfusca, and P. vittata. The loss and degradation and the cumulative effect of this regulation will be to add reviewers on the proposed rule. This effects of this and other threat factors. final rule incorporates minor changes to these species to the List of Endangered One species, P. smithi, is also in danger and Threatened Wildlife. our proposed listing based on the of extinction because of the effects of comments we received (See: Summary DATES: This rule becomes effective stochastic (random) processes. of Comments and Recommendations). August 30, 2018. Peer review and public comment. We ADDRESSES: This final rule is available sought comments from independent Background on the internet at http:// peer reviewers to ensure that our Taxonomy and Species Descriptions www.regulations.gov at docket number designation is based on scientifically Poecilotheria is a genus of arboreal FWS–HQ–ES–2016–0076. Comments sound data and analyses. We invited spiders endemic to Sri Lanka and India. and materials we received, as well as these peer reviewers to comment on our The genus belongs to the family supporting documentation we used in listing proposal. We also considered all Theraphosidae, often referred to as preparing this rule, are available for comments and information received tarantulas, within the infraorder public inspection at http:// from the public during the comment Mygalomorphae. As with most www.regulations.gov. period. theraphosid genera, Poecilotheria is a FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Previous Federal Action poorly understood genus. The taxonomy Morgan, Chief, Branch of Delisting and We received a petition, dated October has never been studied using modern Foreign Species, Ecological Services, 29, 2010, from WildEarth Guardians DNA technology; therefore, species U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: ES, requesting that the following 11 descriptions are based solely on 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA tarantula species in the genus morphological characteristics. 22041–3803; telephone, 703–358–2171. Poecilotheria be listed under the Act as Consequently, there have been several Persons who use a telecommunications endangered or threatened: Poecilotheria revisions, additions, and subtractions to device for the deaf (TDD) may call the fasciata, P. formosa, P. the list of Poecilotheria species over the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. hanumavilasumica, P. metallica, P. last 20 years (Nanayakkara 2014a, pp. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: miranda, P. ornata, P. pederseni, P. 71–72; Gabriel et al. 2013, entire). rufilata, P. smithi, P. striata, and P. The World Spider Catalog (2017, Executive Summary subfusca. The petition identified itself unpaginated; 2016, unpaginated) Why we need to publish a rule. Under as such and included the information as currently recognizes 14 species of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as required by 50 CFR 424.14(a). We Poecilotheria. The Integrated amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), published a 90-day finding on December Taxonomic Information System a species may be protected through 3, 2013 (78 FR 72622), indicating that currently identifies 16 species in the listing as an endangered species or the petition presents substantial genus, based on the 2011 version of the threatened species if it meets the scientific and commercial information same catalog. Because the World Spider definition of an ‘‘endangered species’’ or indicating that listing these 11 species Catalog is the widely accepted authority ‘‘threatened species’’ under the Act. may be warranted. At that time we also on spider taxonomy, we consider the Listing a species as an endangered or (1) notified the public that we were Poecilotheria species recognized by the threatened species can only be initiating a review of the status of these most recent (2017) version of this completed by issuing a rule. species to determine if listing them is catalog to be valid. Based on the World VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:21 Jul 30, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\31JYR1.SGM 31JYR1 daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES 36756 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / Rules and Regulations Spider Catalog, all five of the species Captive Poecilotheria Tarantula General Biology addressed in this rule are considered Most captive individuals of Tarantulas possess life-history traits valid taxon, although P. pederseni is Poecilotheria species are in the pet markedly different from most spiders now considered a junior synonym to the trade; few specimens of the species and other arthropods (Bond et al. 2006, currently accepted name P. vittata. addressed in this rule are held in zoos p. 145). They are long-lived, have Therefore, in the remainder of this (Species360 2017, unpaginated). delayed sexual maturity, and most are document we refer to this species as P. Poecilotheria species are commonly habitat specialists that are extremely vittata. Further, all five of these species bred in captivity by amateur hobbyists sedentary. They also have poor have multiple common names (see as well as vendors, and are available as dispersal ability because their mode of WildEarth Guardians 2010, p. 4); thus, captive-bred young in the pet trade in travel is limited to walking, and they we refer to them by their scientific the United States, Europe, and typically do not move far from the area names throughout this document. elsewhere (see Trade). However, while in which they are born. As a result, the Poecilotheria species are among the rearing and keeping of captive distribution of individuals tends to be largest spiders in the world, with body individuals by hobbyists and vendors highly clumped in suitable lengths of 4 to 9 centimeters (1.5 to 3.5 has provided information on life history microhabitats (a smaller habitat within inches) and maximum adult leg spans of these species, we are not aware of any a larger habitat), populations are varying from 15 to 25 centimeters (6 to existing conservation programs for these extremely genetically structured 10 inches) (Nanayakkara 2014a, pp. 94– species, including any in which (genetically subdivided; gene 129; Molur et al. 2006, p. 23). They are specimens held or sold as pets frequencies differ across the known for their fast movements and contribute to the viability of these population), and the group shows a high potent venom that, in humans, typically species within their native ranges in the level of endemism (species restricted to causes extended muscle cramps and wild. a particular geographical location) severe pain (Fuchs 2014, p. 75; Individuals of these species that are (Ferreti et al. 2014, p. 2; Hedin et al. Nanayakkara and Adikaram 2013, p. held or sold as pets hold limited 2013, p. 509, citing several sources; 53). They are hairy spiders and have conservation value to the species in the Bond et al. 2006, pp. 145–146, citing striking coloration, with dorsal color wild because they are not genetically several sources). patterns of gray, black, brown, and in managed for conservation purposes. Tarantulas are primarily nocturnal one case, a metallic blue.
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