REVIEW OF FIVE NON-CITES REPTILES THAT ARE KNOWN OR …ec.europa.eu/environment/cites/pdf/reports/5non_cites_reptiles.pdf · World Conservation Monitoring Centre August, 2009 . 2

REVIEW OF FIVE NON-CITES REPTILES THAT ARE KNOWN OR

LIKELY TO BE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE

(Version edited for public release)

Prepared for the

A report to the European Commission Directorate General Environment

ENV.E.2. – Environmental Agreements and Trade

by the

United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre

August, 2009

2

UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre

219 Huntingdon Road Cambridge CB3 0DL United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1223 277314 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277136 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.unep-wcmc.org

ABOUT UNEP-WORLD CONSERVATION

MONITORING CENTRE

The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre

(UNEP-WCMC), based in Cambridge, UK, is the

specialist biodiversity information and assessment

centre of the United Nations Environment

Programme (UNEP), run cooperatively with

WCMC 2000, a UK charity. The Centre's mission is

to evaluate and highlight the many values of

biodiversity and put authoritative biodiversity

knowledge at the centre of decision-making.

Through the analysis and synthesis of global

biodiversity knowledge the Centre provides

authoritative, strategic and timely information for

conventions, countries and organisations to use in

the development and implementation of their

policies and decisions.

The UNEP-WCMC provides objective and

scientifically rigorous procedures and services.

These include ecosystem assessments, support for

the implementation of environmental agreements,

global and regional biodiversity information,

research on threats and impacts, and the

development of future scenarios.

CITATION

UNEP-WCMC (2009). Review of non-CITES reptiles that are known or likely to be in international trade (five additional species). A Report to the European Commission. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge.

PREPARED FOR

The European Commission, Brussels, Belgium

DISCLAIMER

The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organisations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP, the European Commission or contributory organisations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

© Copyright: 2009, European Commission

http://www.unep-wcmc.org/

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 4

SPECIES REVIEWS ............................................................................................................... 4

Methods ............................................................................................................................................ 4

SPECIES: Celestus warreni ............................................................................................................... 7

SPECIES: Nephrurus deleani .......................................................................................................... 10

SPECIES: Ctenosaura palearis ........................................................................................................ 13

SPECIES: Ctenosaura quinquecarinata ........................................................................................... 16

SPECIES: Pituophis ruthveni ........................................................................................................... 19

ANNEX I ............................................................................................................................... 22

Introduction

4

1. INTRODUCTION

For SRG 48 (June, 2009), a study was conducted to identify reptile species which were not listed in CITES or the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations but for which there was evidence of international trade, particularly within the European Union (UNEP-WCMC, 2009). Based on a survey of 24 websites offering reptiles for sale within the EU, the study identified 75 species as being commonly in trade (advertised on five or more websites) and a further 14 species that were less common in trade (advertised on fewer than five websites) but were considered globally threatened in the IUCN Red List.

In-depth reviews were conducted for ten of the 89 species to see whether they met the criteria for listing in any of Annexes A, B or D1 of Council Regulation 338/97 (Annex I). These reviews were discussed at SRG 48.

At SRG 48, five additional species were selected by the SRG for future in-depth reviews, as they were either Critically Endangered or Endangered and found advertised for sale on at least one EU website. These species are reviewed in this report.

SPECIES REVIEWS

Methods

For each of the species selected for review, an extensive literature review was conducted to establish each species‘ conservation status in all range states.

In the absence of CITES trade data, trade patterns were assessed using internet searches, which were undertaken during the week of 27th July, 2009. This included Google searches conducted following the methodology by UNEP-WCMC (2009) and updated searches of the 24 EU websites (including reptile importers, wholesalers, retailers, and classifieds advertisements) that were used to compile the initial list of non-CITES reptiles currently offered for sale within the EU (UNEP-WCMC, 2009).

References

UNEP-WCMC. 2009. Review of non-CITES reptiles that are known or likely to be in international trade. A report to the European Commission. UNEP-WCMC. Cambridge, UK.

1 Annex C was not considered relevant as it includes only species listed in CITES Appendices II or

III.

Celestus warreni

5

REVIEW OF FIVE NON-CITES REPTILES THAT ARE KNOWN OR LIKELY TO BE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE

REPTILIA ANGUIDAE

SPECIES: Celestus warreni

SYNONYMS: Diploglossus warreni, Celestus carraui

COMMON NAMES: Warren's Galliwasp (English)

RANGE STATES: Dominican Republic, Haiti

IUCN RED LIST: Critically Endangered

TRADE PATTERNS:

This species was selected for review at SRG 48 because its global threat status is Critically Endangered and there was evidence that it was being offered for sale within the EU: in a

survey of internet trade conducted in March 2009, Diploglossus warreni was seen advertised

on the French website www.lafermetropicale.com for €145, although unavailable, with no information on source (UNEP-WCMC, 2009).

The following information was derived from an internet survey conducted in July 2009, as outlined in section 2 of this report:

The species was no longer advertised on the French website www.lafermetropicale.com.

Advertised on the German website www.animal-paradies.de, which indicated that the species was rarely available and not available at present. No information on price.

A hobbyist on the German website http://terraristik.com/tb/list_classifieds_int.php expressed interest in obtaining the species (posted May 2009).

Powell et al. (2000) reported that C. warreni/C. carraui specimens had a history of unsuccessful captive breeding.

CONSERVATION STATUS in range states

Taxonomic note: Hedges (1996) reassessed the taxonomy of the species and assigned Diploglossus warreni to Celestus warreni. This appears to be generally accepted (e.g. Powell and Henderson, 2003; McGinnity and Powell, 2004; Savage et al., 2008). Additional taxonomic re-evaluations indicated that Celestus carraui (restricted to the Dominican Republic) should be considered a synonym of Celestus warreni (Powell and Henderson, 2003).

Celestus warreni is a burrowing galliwasp endemic to northern Haiti and northern Dominican Republic (Powell et al., 2000; McGinnity and Powell, 2004). It was classified as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List (McGinnity and Powell, 2004), with the following justification:

“Although the generation length is not known with any certainty […], an 80% reduction over the last twenty years seems reasonable, and this triggers a Critically Endangered

http://www.lafermetropicale.com/

http://www.lafermetropicale.com/

http://www.animal-paradies.de/

http://terraristik.com/tb/list_classifieds_int.php

Celestus warreni

6

listing. The extent of occurrence is <100 km² and the area of occupancy is <10 km². There is continuing decline in the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, habitat and numbers of locations and the remaining habitat is severely fragmented.‖

The major threats to this species were reported to be deforestation and habitat degradation due to subsistence agriculture, charcoal production and other types of habitat loss (Powell and Henderson, 2003; McGinnity and Powell, 2004).

Dominican Republic: Powell et al. (2000) gave the following information on C. carraui (now

recognised as C. warreni) in the Dominican Republic:

―The Dominican endemic C. carraui has a restricted distribution; although several localities are known, each probably represents a very small, isolated population. Sites of collection are in xeric and mesic situations at moderate elevations (200-300 m) north and south of the Cordillera Septentrional (Schwartz and Henderson, 1991). Only a few specimens have been collected in recent years […] [B}ecause these large and rather spectacular animals would not escape notice if encountered, they are probably rare throughout their range.‖

Powell et al. (2000) classified C. carraui in the Dominican Republic as Endangered (Powell et al., 2000).

According to the IUCN assessment (McGinnity and Powell, 2004), ―it appears that all the subpopulations in the Dominican Republic (those that constituted C. carraui) may be largely extirpated. The last collection was of a female collected in the Puerto Plata area, but there are occasional reports of sightings made by local people (S.J. Incháustegui and M. Hernández, pers. comm. 2004)‖.

It was reported that reptiles in the Dominican Republic were not generally threatened by illegal international trade, and that ―Ongoing habitat degradation, however, is beyond any doubt the main threat to amphibians and reptiles throughout the country‖ (Powell et al., 2000). Extensive portions of known C. carraui habitat were reported to have been altered, but unlike some reptiles that have been heavily exploited in the Dominican Republic, only a few specimens of C. carraui were reported to have been taken since its description in 1985 (Powell et al., 2000).

Forested areas, on which giant Celestus are dependent, were reported to be declining in the Dominican Republic (Harcourt and Ottenwalder, 1996; in: Powell and Henderson, 2003).

Powell et al. (2000) noted that ―because the risk of extinction of these species appears to be high and natural habitat is diminishing or gone, the removal of […] C. carraui from wild populations to establish captive propagation programmes may be a critical component of any conservation and recovery strategy.‖

The species was reported to be protected by Dominican Republic law: ―Law 64-00, General Law on Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic establishes general protection for all its biodiversity, under articles 138 and 140. Article 139 gives protected status to all species considered endangered. Presidential Decree 801-02 reconfirms this protection for all wild reptile species and other taxa of the Dominican Republic‖ (McGinnity and Powell, 2004).

Haiti: It is only known to occur with confidence in Haiti from a single locality

(McGinnity and Powell, 2004). The species is associated with mesic lowland broadleaf forest up to moderate elevations (McGinnity and Powell, 2004).

Haiti has a dense rural population and ―has experienced severe degradation of its natural resources and a significant change in its land cover‖ (Dolisca et al., 2007). Haiti‘s remaining forest cover was estimated at only 3.8% of all land area and was declining at a rate of 0.7% per year between 2000 and 2005 (FAO, 2006). Giant Celestus are dependent on forested areas, of which even small patches are rare in Haiti (Powell and Henderson, 2003).

Warren's Galliwasps are targeted by local people who mistakenly consider them to be venomous and because they reportedly have significance in the Voodoo religion

Celestus warreni

7

(McGinnity and Powell, 2004). In Powell and Henderson (2003) it was reported that ―locals in the vicinity of the one Haitian site known to support an extant population as recently as 2000 kill these lizards whenever they are encountered (McGinnity, 2002).‖ Predation by introduced species such as dogs, cats, and mongooses are also a factor in C. warreni declines (Powell and Henderson, 2003; McGinnity and Powell, 2004). International trade does not appear to be a major threat to this species according to the available literature.

No information was found regarding whether or not the species is currently protected in Haiti. Powell and Henderson (2003) noted that Haiti was ―unable to implement effective conservation measures‖ for this species.

REFERENCES

Dolisca, F., McDaniel, J. M., Teeter, L. D., and Jolly, C. M. 2007. Land tenure, population pressure, and deforestation in Haiti: the case of Foret des Pins Reserve. Journal of Forest Economics, 13 (4): 277-289.

FAO. 2006. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005, Main Report. Progress Towards Sustainable Forest Management. FAO Forestry Paper 147. Rome.

Harcourt, C. S. and Ottenwalder, J. A. 1996. Hispaniola, in Harcourt, C. S. & Sayer, J. A., (eds.), The conservation atlas of tropical forests, the Americas. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 102-111.

Hedges, B. S. 1996. The origin of West Indian amphibians and reptiles., in Powell, R. & Henderson, R. W., (eds.), Contributions to West Indian herpetology: A tribute to Albert Schwartz. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 95-128.

McGinnity, D. 2002. The conservation initiative for giant galliwasps at Nashville Zoo: A preliminary account. Intl. Zoo News 49: 396–403.

McGinnity, D. and Powell, R. 2004. Celestus warreni. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. URL: www.iucnredlist.org Accessed: 22-7-2009.

Powell, R. and Henderson, R. W. 2003. The taxonomic and conservation status of Giant Hispaniolan Celestus (Anguidae). Caribbean Journal of Science: 237-240.

Powell, R., Ottenwalder, J. A., Inchaustegui, S. J., Henderson, R. W., and Glor, R. E. 2000. Amphibians and reptiles of the Dominican Republic: species of special concern. Oryx, 34 (2): 118-128.

Savage, J. M., Lips, K. R., and Ibanez, R. 2008. A new species of Celestus from west-central Panama, with consideration of the status of the genera of the Anguidae: Diploglossinae (Squamata). International Journal of Tropical Biology, 56 (2): 845-859.

Schwartz, A. and Henderson, R. W. 1991. Amphibians and reptiles of the West Indies: descriptions, distributions, and natural history. University of Florida Press, Gainsville.


Nephrurus deleani

8


REPTILIA GEKKONIDAE

SPECIES: Nephrurus deleani

SYNONYMS: -

COMMON NAMES: Acacia Knob-tailed Gecko (English)

RANGE STATES: Australia

IUCN RED LIST: Endangered

TRADE PATTERNS:

This species was selected for review at SRG 48 because its global threat status is Endangered and there was evidence that it was being offered for sale within the EU: in a survey of internet trade conducted in March 2009, Nephrurus deleani was seen advertised on the German website www.terraristic-classifieds.com (price and source not specified) (UNEP-WCMC, 2009).


N. deleani was estimated to cost €1500 on the Italian forum www.italiangekko.net, although it was not offered for sale.

There were several discussions regarding N. deleani on the forum www.geckosunlimited.com, including photographs from hobbyists breeding the species (posted by a German hobbyist in June 2008 and US hobbyists in May 2008 and February 2009), a German hobbyist reporting to have bought an adult pair from the Hamm show (March 2008), and many expressions of interest in owning the species.

Advertised for sale on the German website www.shop.strato.de, where it was reported to be captive-bred but not available at present, together with the note ‗price and availability on request‘.

A hobbyist posted several pictures of his N. deleani pets on the French forum www.le-monde-des-reptiles.com/forum (May & October 2003), and others expressed interest in owning the species.

A hobbyist on the Swiss forum www.terrario-suisse.ch reported to be breeding this species (posted August 2004).

A pair was advertised for $2,300 from www.clarksgeckos.com, Alabama, US, on the forum www.geckosunlimited.com (posted March 2009) and several juvenile pairs advertised for sale for $2200/pair from the US reptile breeders http://www.bgr.cc, on the forum http://market.kingsnake.com (posted July 2009).

http://www.terraristic-classifieds.com/

http://www.italiangekko.net/

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/

http://www.shop.strato.de/

http://www.le-monde-des-reptiles.com/forum


http://www.terrario-suisse.ch/

http://www.clarksgeckos.com/

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/

http://www.bgr.cc/

http://market.kingsnake.com/

Nephrurus deleani

9

On the forum www.aussiepythons.com/forum several Australian hobbyists listed N. deleani among the species they would most like to own (posted June 2008).


Australia: Nephrurus deleani is an arid-adapted terrestrial gecko endemic to Australia

(Cogger, 2000). It is restricted to a very small area of Acacia vegetated sand hills in the vicinity of Pernatty lagoon in South Australia (Harvey, 1983; Morton et al., 1995; Cogger, 2000). It has a patchy distribution of approximately 60 sites within a 500 km2 area (Threatened Species Scientific Committee, 2008).

It was classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List due to its small range (less than 5,000 km2 or area of occupancy estimated to be less than 500 km2), its severely fragmented population and a continuing decline inferred through the ―area, extent and/or quality of habitat‖(Australasian Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group, 1996).

The main threats to N. deleani were considered to be habitat loss, disturbance and modification to its already restricted habitat, particularly livestock overgrazing, trampling of burrows by livestock, and soil erosion (Threatened Species Scientific Committee, 2008). Predation by feral cats and foxes was also considered to be a problem (Threatened Species Scientific Committee, 2008).

N. deleani is listed as vulnerable under Australia‘s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act, Australian Government, 2009a) and, prior to the commencement of the EPBC Act, it was listed as vulnerable under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (Threatened Species Scientific Committee, 2008). International movement of wildlife and wildlife products is regulated under Part 13A of the EPBC Act, including the regulation of export of Australian native species (Australian Government, 2009b). Commercial export of regulated wildlife and wildlife products may occur only where the specimens have been derived from an approved source (captive breeding program, artificial propagation program, aquaculture program, wildlife trade management operation, or wildlife management plan) (Australian Government, 2009b).

Australia published ―Commonwealth Conservation Advice for N. deleani” in 2008 detailing the conservation status of the species and providing guidance on immediate recovery and threat abatement activities that could be implemented to ensure the conservation of the species (Threatened Species Scientific Committee, 2008). Australia also has an Action Plan for Australian Reptiles and ―Threat Abatement Plans‖ for feral rabbits, feral cats and European Red Fox that can help to minimize the threats to N. deleani (Threatened Species Scientific Committee, 2008).

REFERENCES:

Australasian Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group. 1996. Nephrurus deleani. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. URL: www.iucnredlist.org Accessed: 22-7-2009.

Australian Government. 2009a. EPBC Act List of Threatened Fauna URL: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=fauna Accessed: 5-8-2009a.

Australian Government. 2009b. Wildlife trade and conservation URL: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/index.html Accessed: 5-8-2009b.

Cogger, H. G. 2000. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. Reed New Holland, Sydney, Australia. Harvey, C. 1983. A new species of Nephrurus (Reptilia Gekkonidae) from South Australia.

Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 107 (3-4): 231-235. Morton, S. R., Short, J., and Barker, R. D. 1995. Refugia for biological diversity in arid and semi-

arid Australia, Biodiversity Series, URL: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/publications/series/paper4/gaw.html

Threatened Species Scientific Committee. 2008. Commonwealth Conservation Advice on Nephrurus deleani (Pernatty Knob-tail). URL:

http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum

Nephrurus deleani

10

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/1690-conservation-advice.pdf Accessed: 28-7-2009.


Ctenosaura palearis

11


REPTILIA IGUANIDAE

SPECIES: Ctenosaura palearis

SYNONYMS: Enyaliosaurus palearis

COMMON NAMES: Guatemalan Spiny-tailed Iguana

RANGE STATES: Guatemala

IUCN RED LIST: Critically Endangered

TRADE PATTERNS:

This species was selected for review at SRG 48 because its global threat status is Critically Endangered and there was evidence that it was being offered for sale within the EU: in a survey of internet trade conducted in March 2009, Ctenosaura palearis was seen advertised on the German websites www.reptilica.de (for €69, source not specified) and www.hoch-rep.com (price and source not specified) (UNEP-WCMC, 2009).


Advertised on several German websites, including www.reptilica.de (currently unavailable), www.tropicfauna.de, www.zoo-scalar.de, www.quoka.de, www.animal-paradies.de and www.hoch-rep.com for €59-69. Sources were generally not specified; some indicated the animals were captive bred.

Advertised on the Spanish websites www.reptilica.es (€75, currently unavailable, source not specified) and www.foroanimales.es (€56, captive bred adults).

Several hobbyists on the Dutch Iguana Foundation forum http://www.sdgl.org/forum expressed interest in owning/breeding C. palearis (discussion dated May 2007). One hobbyist claimed to be able to get hold of some, although he wasn‘t sure if they were C. palearis or C. melanosterna, and another commented ―A friend is exporting a shipment to me in June from the Netherlands. I am sure he would not mind sending them too.‖

Hobbyists from the Netherlands and Germany expressed interest in obtaining the species on the German classifieds site www.terraristik.com (dated July 2008 and February 2009).

A hobbyist in the US reported owning several Ctenosaura species including C. palearis on the forum www.tegutalk.com/forum (posted November 2007).

C. palearis was recorded in a list of non-CITES reptiles involved in the live trade within the EU, as recorded on price lists of wholesalers and retailers between 1977 and 1999 (Auliya, 2003).

http://www.reptilica.de/

http://www.hoch-rep.com/



http://www.tropicfauna.de/

http://www.zoo-scalar.de/

http://www.quoka.de/



http://www.reptilica.es/

http://www.foroanimales.es/

http://www.sdgl.org/forum

http://www.terraristik.com/

http://www.tegutalk.com/forum

Ctenosaura palearis

12


Taxonomic note: Previously, Ctenosaura palearis was thought to occur in Guatemala and Honduras, but evidence presented by Buckley and Axtell (1997) indicated that the Honduran populations had significant morphological differences to Guatemalan populations of C. palearis and should be considered a separate species - Ctenosaura melanosterna.

Guatemala: C. palearis is a spiny-tailed iguana endemic to the semiarid region of the upper Rio Motagua Valley in north-eastern Guatemala (Köhler, 2004; Hollingsworth, 2004; Coti and Ariano-Sanchez, 2008). Its range includes areas of dry forest and thorn scrub at elevations of 350-700 m above sea level (Coti and Ariano-Sanchez, 2008). It was classified as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List (Köhler, 2004), with the following justification:

“Ctenosaura palearis has an extent of occurrence less than 100 km² (CR B1). Total population size is not known, but it is thought that there may be fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. The population is severely fragmented: probably 10–15 isolated subpopulations (CR B1a) and is threatened by habitat loss (CR B1b(iii)). The population is expected to decline by at least 30% over the next ten years if current rates of habitat loss continue.‖

Buckley and Axtell (1997) reported that C. palearis populations were greatly reduced in numbers and extirpated from several localities in the Motagua Valley, including the type locality of Gualán Guatemala. A survey of local people indicated that populations of the species had ‗dramatically declined‘ over the twenty year period 1988-2008 (Coti and Ariano-Sanchez, 2008).

In Central America, lizards of the genus Ctenosaura are a staple food item for humans (Pianka and Vitt, 2003). A survey conducted on the traditional use of C. palearis found that local people regularly ate iguana and showed a marked preference for C. palearis meat (possibly due to a local perception that it has medicinal properties) (Coti and Ariano-Sanchez, 2008). Respondents indicated that C. palearis were heavily hunted for their meat, eggs, and skin, with the height of the hunting season often coinciding with the egg-laying season (February to April). While most of the hunting of iguanas was reported primarily for food consumption for local families, the study identified two areas in the department of El Progreso where C. palearis was hunted for the illegal pet trade. Coti and Ariano-Sanchez (2008) stated that ―Local people will collect 60 or more animals and sell them to random buyers who then sell them to international illegal traders.‖ They indicated that illegal trade was a more serious threat to the species than subsistence hunting, due to the volume of iguanas caught for the international market (50-60 per month compared to six a month by subsistence hunters). They also stated that market surveys found the species sold in the EU and the US for an average price of $25.00 per individual. While subsistence hunting may deplete populations in the long-term, Coti and Ariano-Sanchez (2008) contended that the ―more important threat at this time is the illegal trade of this species on the international market.‖

Malfatti (2007) reported that C. palearis ―has been heavily hunted in the past for food and the pet trade.

According to Köhler (2004), habitat loss was considered the main threat to this species and while ―collection for the international pet trade continues, it is not thought to be a serious threat at present.‖ Habitat loss was reported to be due primarily to land conversion for watermelon cultivation and residential construction in the valley (Coti and Ariano Sanchez, 2008).

Köhler (2004) reported that C. palearis did not receive any legal protection and was not known to occur within any protected areas. In 2006, however, the government of Guatemala listed C. palearis as a category 2 threatened species due to its restricted habitat type and endemism (CONAP, 2006). Use of category 2 species is permitted a) for scientific and breeding purposes; and b) for commercial purposes, regulated by management plans to be approved if the

Ctenosaura palearis

13

survival of the species is guaranteed (CONAP, 2006). Use of category 2 species from protected areas requires an EIA (CONAP, 2006).

Coti and Ariano-Sanchez (2008) recommended that C. palearis be listed in Appendix II of CITES. They stated that ―the lack of a regulatory entity for the international trade makes it difficult to control illicit commerce in this species‖ (Coti and Ariano-Sanchez, 2008).

REFERENCES:

Auliya, M. 2003. Hot trade in cool creatures - a review of the live reptile trade in the European Union in the 1990s with a focus on Germany. TRAFFIC Europe. Brussels, Belgium.

Buckley, L. J. and Axtell, R. W. 1997. Evidence for the specific status of the honduran lizards formerly referred to Ctenosaura palearis (Reptilia: Squamata: Iguanidae). Copeia, 1997 (1): 138-150.

CONAP. 7/2006. Lista de especies amenazadas de Guatemala URL: http://conap.gob.gt:7778/conap/documentos/fauna/Listado%20de%20especies%20amenazadas.pdf

Coti, P. and Ariano-Sanchez, D. 2008. Ecology and traditional use of the Guatemalan black iguana (Ctenosaura palearis) in the dry forests of Motagua Valley, Guatemala. Iguana, 15 (3): 143-149.

Hollingsworth, B. D. 2004. The evolution of iguanas, in Alberts, A. C. et al., (eds.), Iguanas - biology and conservation. University of California Press, London.

Köhler, G. 2004. Ctenosaura palearis. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. URL: www.iucnredlist.org Accessed: 22-7-2009.

Malfatti, M. 2007. Genus Ctenosaura URL: www.westcoastiguana.com/articles.htm Accessed: 30-7-2009.

Pianka, E. R. and Vitt, L. J. 2003. Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity. University of California Press.


Ctenosaura quinquecarinata

14


REPTILIA IGUANIDAE

SPECIES: Ctenosaura quinquecarinata

SYNONYMS: Ctenosaura quinquecariniata,

Enyaliosaurus quinquecarinatus

COMMON NAMES: Oaxacan Spiny-tailed Iguana (English)

RANGE STATES: Costa Rica, Nicaragua


TRADE PATTERNS:

This species was selected for review at SRG 48 because its global threat status is Endangered and there was evidence that it was being offered for sale within the EU: in a survey of internet trade conducted in March 2009, Ctenosaura quinquecarinata was seen advertised on the German website www.reptilica.de (for €49, source not specified) and the UK website www.faunaimportuk.com (price and source not specified, availability seasonal) (UNEP-WCMC, 2009).


Advertised on the German websites www.reptilica.de (€49, currently unavailable), www.hoch-rep.com (no price), www.zoo-scalar.de (€55), www.animal-paradies.de (€70), www.enimal.de (wild-caught pair offered, €155) and www.tropicfauna.de (€49).

A hobbyist from Belgium reported owning the species, on the forum www.9lives.be/forum (posted February 2006).

On the Dutch Iguana Foundation forum www.sdgl.org/forum, a hobbyist from the Netherlands requested care information on the species (posted February 2005).

Hobbyists on the French forums http://passion-reptiles.forumactif.com (date not given) and www.le-monde-des-reptiles.com/forum (July 2009) posted photographs of C. quinquecarinata pets that they owned.

A hobbyist on the forum www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums was looking for a C. quinquecarinata to breed (posted June 2009, country of hobbyist not stated).

C. quinquecarinata care sheets were found on the websites www.santafejewels.com/CareSheet.html, www.animauxexotiques.com and www.le-monde-des-reptiles.com/forum.

Hobbyists in the US also discussed the species: e.g. a hobbyist reported owning several Ctenosaura species including quinquecarinata on the forum


http://www.faunaimportuk.com/snakes.htm



http://www.zoo-scalar.de/


http://www.enimal.de/

http://www.tropicfauna.de/

http://www.9lives.be/forum


http://passion-reptiles.forumactif.com/


http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums

http://www.santafejewels.com/CareSheet.html

http://www.animauxexotiques.com/




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www.tegutalk.com/forum (posted November 2007); several hobbyists reported owning C. quinquecarinata and buying them from local pet shops, on the forum http://forum.kingsnake.com; and on the Dutch Iguana Foundation forum www.sdgl.org/forum, a hobbyist from the US commented ―Many Iguana and Ctenosaura (mostly similis, quinquecarinata and palearis) are imported [to the US] but most die especially the Ctenosaura‖(postedAugust 2007).

C. quinquecarinata was recorded in a list of non-CITES reptiles involved in the live trade within the EU, as recorded on price lists of wholesalers and retailers between 1977 and 1999 (Auliya, 2003).


Taxonomic note: Populations of C. quinquecarinata-like lizards found in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala are now believed to be conspecific to C. flavidorsalis and populations in Mexico are regarded as C. oaxacana (Hasbun et al., 2005; Hollingsworth, 2004). The only populations of true C. quinquecarinata within the C. quinquecarinata clade were considered to occur in Nicaragua and Costa Rica (Hasbun et al., 2005; Hollingsworth, 2004).

C. quinquecarinata is a spiny-tailed iguana that occurs in isolated subpopulations in Pacific versant Nicaragua and northwestern Costa Rica (Köhler, 2004).

The species was classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List with the following justification:

―Ctenosaura quinquecarinata has an extent of occurrence less than 5,000 km² (EN B1) and an area of occupancy less than 500 km² (EN B2). Total population size is not known, but it is thought that there may be fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. The population is severely fragmented: probably 10–15 isolated subpopulations (EN B1a+2a) and is threatened by declining area and quality of habitat as a result of deforestation and regular burning of habitat (EN B1b(iii)+2b(iii)). The species is also collected for the international pet trade (EN B1b(v)+2b(v)). The population is expected to decline by at least 30% over the next ten years if current rates of habitat loss continue.‖

Loss of habitat due to deforestation and regular burning were considered major threats to this species, as well as the collection of individuals for the international pet trade (Köhler, 2004). In Central America, lizards of the genus Ctenosaura are a staple food item for humans (Pianka and Vitt, 2003).

Costa Rica: Reportedly present in the Province of Guanacaste in Costa Rica

(Hollingsworth, 2004).

Leenders (2001) stated that C. quinquecarinata ―has a discontinuous range, with isolated populations occurring in relatively small areas...[t]hese lizards are exclusively found in dry subtropical forests and arid bushy savannahs, where they live in and around a preferred burrow.‖ The species is ―only found in a few spots in Santa Rosa National Park, at elevations below 600 m (1,950 ft)‖ (Leenders, 2001). Santa Rosa National Park, located in the northwest of Costa Rica, has a total area of approximately 37,000 ha. and is considered a ―Government Managed Protected Area‖ (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, 2009). As of 2004, this species was not under any legal protection in Costa Rica (Köhler, 2004). The species was not listed as a threatened or endangered species in Costa Rica (INBio, 2007) and therefore not afforded protection under Decreto No. 26435-MINAE (MINAE, 1992).

Nicaragua: Reportedly present in the Departments of Boaca, Chontales, Jinotega, and Matagalpa in Nicaragua (Hollingsworth, 2004).

This species occurs in isolated subpopulations in west-central Nicaragua (Köhler, 2004). No additional information on the conservation status of the species specific to the country was found to be available.

As of 2004, this species was not under any legal protection in Nicaragua and was not known to occur within any protected areas (Köhler, 2004). According to a review of national wildlife

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trade policy conducted by the Nicaraguan government ―[Nicaragua] has neither a written wildlife trade policy nor laws to underpin sustainable species management in domestic and international trade‖(Castellón, 2008). While the report does not refer to trade in wild-sourced C. quinquecarinata, it does list C. quinquecarinata as one of the ―main internationally traded captive-bred species‖ in Nicaragua and also mentions that another reptile of the same genus (C. similis) is sold as live animals at local markets (Castellón, 2008).

REFERENCES:


Castellón, R. 2008. Study review of Nicaragua's wildlife trade policy. MARENA-CITES Ni. URL: http://www.cites.org/common/prog/policy/NICARAGUA-WTPR-FIN-EN.pdf Accessed 25-3-2009.

Hasbun, C. R., Gomez, A., Köhler, G., and Lunt, D. 2005. Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography of the Mesoamerican spiny-tailed lizards (Ctenosaura quinquiecarinata complex): historical biogeography, species status and conservation. Molecular Ecology, 14 (3095): 3107.

INBio. 2007. Especies de Costa Rica. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad. URL: www.darnis.inbio.ac.cr Accessed 07-8-2009.

Hollingsworth, B. D. 2004. The evolution of iguanas, in Alberts, A. C. et al., (eds.), Iguanas - biology and conservation. University of California Press, London.

Köhler, G. 2004. Ctenosaura quinquecarinata. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. URL: www.iucnredlist.org Accessed: 22-7-2009.

Leenders, T. 2001. A guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica. Zona Tropical Publication. Pianka, E. R. and Vitt, L. J. 2003. Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity. University of

California Press. UNEP-WCMC. 2009. Review of non-CITES reptiles that are known or likely to be in international

trade. A report to the European Commission. UNEP-WCMC. Cambridge, UK. UNEP-WCMC and IUCN. 2009. World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) Annual Release 2009

(web download version). URL: http://www.wdpa.org/siteSheet.aspx?sitecode=166 Accessed: 30-7-2009.

Pituophis ruthveni

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REPTILIA COLUBRIDAE

SPECIES: Pituophis ruthveni

SYNONYMS: Pituophis melanoleucus ruthveni

COMMON NAMES: Louisiana Pine Snake (English)

RANGE STATES: United States of America


TRADE PATTERNS:

This species was selected for review at SRG 48 because its global threat status is Endangered and there was evidence that it was being offered for sale within the EU: in a survey of internet trade conducted in March 2009, Pituophis ruthveni was seen advertised on the German website www.terraristic-classifieds.com for €300 (source not specified) (UNEP-WCMC, 2009).


Advertised on the German website www.terraristic-classifieds.com for €300 each or €700 for a group (posted July 2009). Several animals, reportedly captive bred, also advertised on the German websites www.pituophis.de, www.bullennattern.net and www.reptilienserver.de, all for €300.

Two US breeders of P. ruthveni were listed on http://www.kingsnake.com, along with a care sheet for the species.

The name P. ruthveni was not included in the list of non-CITES reptiles involved in the live trade within the EU (as recorded on price lists of wholesalers and retailers between 1977 and 1999) (Auliya, 2003). However, Pituophis sp. and P. melanoleucus spp. were included in the list, each of which could have referred to P. ruthveni (Pituophis melanoleucus ruthveni is a synonym of Pituophis ruthveni).


Taxonomic note: Formerly described as Pituophis melanoleucus ruthveni, its taxonomic status was reassessed by Reichling (1995) and P. ruthveni was ―determined to be a valid evolutionary species, both geographically isolated and genetically distinct [...and] has subsequently been accepted as a full species‖ (USFWS et al., 2003). This taxonomic revision appears to be accepted by most authors (e.g. Rudolph et al., 2006; Hammerson, 2007; Uetz, 2009)

United States of America: Pituophis ruthveni are large, powerful constricting snakes

endemic to the longleaf pine ecosystem that historically existed in Louisiana and Texas (Reichling, 1995; USFWS et al., 2003). Existing populations occur in seven areas in west-central Louisiana and extreme east-central Texas, all of which are primarily concentrated on public



http://www.pituophis.de/

http://www.bullennattern.net/

http://www.reptilienserver.de/

Pituophis ruthveni

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lands (military installations and national forests) or privately-owned industrial timberlands (Rudolph et al., 2006).

P. ruthveni was classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List (Hammerson, 2007), ―because the known area of occupancy is estimated to encompass less than 500 km², it is experiencing a continuing decline, and populations are severely fragmented. Additionally, population size may be fewer than 10,000 adults, and no subpopulation is estimated to contain more than 1,000 mature individuals.‖

The species was classified as ‗Imperilled‘ at the national level and at the state level in both Texas and Lousiana (USFWS, 2006).

Rudolph et al. (2006) concluded that the Louisiana pine snake has been extirpated from significant portions of its historic range and that ―extant populations are extremely small and limited to remnant patches of suitable habitat in a highly fragmented landscape.‖ The current potentially occupied habitat for the species in Louisiana and Texas was ―estimated to be approximately 163,000 acres [approximately 66,000 hectares (ha)], with 53 percent occurring on public lands and 47 percent in private ownership‖ (USFWS, 2008). According to Himes et al. (2006), ―[r]angewide habitat destruction and human persecution have reduced natural populations of P. ruthveni to the point that this is arguably the rarest endemic species of snake in the U.S.‖ Rudolph et al. (2006) stated that it is ―considered one of the rarest snakes in North America, and one of the rarest vertebrate species in the United States.‖

Habitat loss and degradation of P. ruthveni habitat were considered to be the major threats to the snake (USFWS et al., 2003; Rudolph et al., 2006; Hammerson, 2007). Road mortality was also believed to be a major threat (Rudolph et al., 1999; Rudolph et al., 2006; Hammerson, 2007).

Commercial collection was cited as a cause for concern (Rudolph et al., 2006). An agreement signed by federal and state agencies stated that ―[p]ossible threats to the Louisiana pine snake may include direct human predation and collection for the pet trade‖ (USFWS et al., 2003). According to Hammerson (2007), ―[t]ake of Louisiana pine snakes for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes is not currently considered to be a threat. However, the low number of Louisiana pine snakes makes them vulnerable to unscrupulous collectors should locality data become available.‖

This species exhibits a ―remarkably low reproductive rate, with the smallest clutch size (3 to 5) of any North American colubrid snake [...] This low fecundity magnifies other threats to the Louisiana pine snake; species with such low reproductive rates are typically incapable of quickly recovering from events that affect population size, increasing their potential for local extirpations‖ (USFWS et al., 2003).

P. ruthveni is currently a candidate for listing on the U.S. Endangered Species Act with a ―high‖ priority level for listing (USFWS, 2008). As a candidate species, it currently lacks formal Federal protection. Federal and state agencies have, however, signed a Candidate Conservation Agreement in 2003 which is currently being implemented (USFWS et al., 2003; USFWS, 2008). The aim of the agreement is to foster cooperation between partnering agencies in order to ―conserve the Louisiana pine snake on Federal lands by protecting known populations and habitat, reducing threats to its survival, maintaining its ecosystem, and restoring degraded habitat. [The] agreement is intended to establish a framework for cooperation and participation in the Louisiana pine snake‘s protection, conservation, and management within the boundaries of certain lands in Texas and Louisiana‖(USFWS et al., 2003). The species is listed as threatened in Texas and protected from direct harm and unauthorized collection in the state (USFWS et al., 2003; TPWD, 2009). It is also classified as rare to imperilled in Louisiana, but is not currently protected under state law (USFWS et al., 2003; LDWF, 2008).

Pituophis ruthveni

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REFERENCES:


Hammerson, G. A. 2007. Pituophis ruthveni. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. URL: www.iucnredlist.org Accessed: 22-7-2009.

Himes, J. G., Hardy, L. M., Rudolph, D. C., and Burgdorf, S. J. 2006. Movement patterns and habitat selection by native and repatriated Louisiana Pine Snakes (Pituophis ruthveni): Implications for conservation. Herpetological Natural History, 9 (2): 103-116.

LDWF. 2008. Louisiana animals of conservation concern URL: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/experience/naturalheritage/rareanimals/animalsofconservationconcern.cfm Accessed: 30-7-2009.

Reichling, S. B. 1995. The taxonomic status of the Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus ruthveni) and its relevance to the evolutionary species concept. Journal of Herpetology, 29 (2): 186-198.

Rudolph, D. C., Burgdorf, S. J., Conner, R. N., and Schaefer, R. R. 1999. Preliminary evaluation of the impact of roads and associated vehicular traffic on snake populations in eastern Texas, Proceedings of Third International Conference on Wildlife Ecology and Transportation, pp. 129-136.

Rudolph, D. C., Burgdorf, S. J., Schaefer, R. R., Conner, R. N., and Maxey, R. W. 2006. Status of Pituophis ruthveni (Louisiana Pine Snake). Southeastern Naturalist, 5 (3): 463-472.

TPWD. 2009. State of Texas Threatened and Endangered Species Regulations URL: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/endang/regulations/texas/index.phtml Accessed: 30-7-2009.

Uetz, P. 2009. The Tigr reptile database. URL: www.reptile-database.org Accessed 30-7-2009. UNEP-WCMC. 2009. Review of non-CITES reptiles that are known or likely to be in international

trade. A report to the European Commission. UNEP-WCMC. Cambridge, UK. USFWS. 2006. Pituophis ruthveni, NatureServe - An online encyclopedia of life, URL:

www.natureserve.org Accessed: 4-8-2009. USFWS. 12/10/2008. Review of native species that are Candidates for listing as Endangered or

Threatened, Federal Register, URL: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/candidate/pdf/cnor2008.pdf

USFWS, USFS, US Department of Defense, TPWD, & LDWF. 2003. Candidate Conservation Agreement for the Louisiana pine snake Pituophis ruthveni.

Annex 1

20

ANNEX I

The criteria for listing in the annexes are specified in Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 as follows:

1. Annex A shall contain:

(a) the species listed in Appendix I to the Convention for which the Member States have not entered a reservation;

(b) any species:

(i) which is, or may be, in demand for utilization in the Community or for international trade and which is either threatened with extinction or so rare that any level of trade would imperil the survival of the species;

or

(ii) which is in a genus of which most of the species or which is a species of which most of the subspecies are listed in Annex A in accordance with the criteria in subparagraphs (a) or (b)(i) and whose listing in the Annex is essential for the effective protection of those taxa.

2. Annex B shall contain:

(a) the species listed in Appendix II to the Convention, other than those listed in Annex A, for which the Member States have not entered a reservation;

(b) the species listed in Appendix I to the Convention for which a reservation has been entered;

(c) any other species not listed in Appendices I or II to the Convention:

(i) which is subject to levels of international trade that might not be compatible:

— with its survival or with the survival of populations in certain countries, or

— with the maintenance of the total population at a level consistent with the role of the species in the ecosystems in which it occurs:

or

(ii) whose listing in the Annex for reasons of similarity in appearance to other species listed in Annex A or Annex B, is essential in order to ensure the effectiveness of controls on trade in specimens of such species;

(d) species in relation to which it has been established that the introduction of live specimens into the natural habitat of the Community would constitute an ecological threat to wild species of fauna and flora indigenous to the Community.

3. Annex C shall contain:

(a) the species listed in Appendix III to the Convention, other than those listed in Annexes A or B, for which the Member States have not entered a reservation;

(b) the species listed in Appendix II to the Convention for which a reservation has been entered.

4. Annex D shall contain:

(a) species not listed in Annexes A to C which are imported into the Community in such numbers as to warrant monitoring;

(b) the species listed in Appendix III to the Convention for which a reservation has been entered.

Furthermore, the following guidelines for Annex D were agreed at SRG 36 on 9 March 2006 as follows:

A species may be included in Annex D where:

there is evidence of demand for it in the EU market and

it might be threatened by trade due its unfavourable or unknown conservation status, distributional, ecological or reproductive potential and

reliable trade data are not available from any other source.

Documents

REVIEW OF FIVE NON-CITES REPTILES THAT ARE KNOWN OR …ec.europa.eu/environment/cites/pdf/reports/5non_cites_reptiles.pdf · World Conservation Monitoring Centre August, 2009 . 2