Status for Puerto Rican Skink, Lesser Virgin Islands Skink, and Virgin Islands Bronze Skink; Status with Section 4(d) Rule for Culebra Skink; etc. (Draft)
Dec. 20, 2024
USFWS proposes to list the Puerto Rican skink (Spondylurus nitidus), a skink species from Puerto Rico and Desecheo Island, and the Lesser Virgin Islands skink (S. semitaeniatus) and Virgin Islands bronze skink (S. sloanii), two skink species from the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands, as endangered species. We propose to list the Culebra skink (S. culebrae), a skink species from Culebra Island and offshore cays of Puerto Rico, as a threatened species with protective regulations under the ESA. After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, they find that listing these species is warranted. If we finalize this rule as proposed, we will add these species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to these species. They also propose to designate critical habitat for the Puerto Rican skink, Culebra skink, Lesser Virgin Islands skink, and Virgin Islands bronze skink under the Act. They will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 18 February 2025. POC is Lourdes Mena, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, P.O. Box 491, Boquerón, PR 00622; tele 352-749-2462; email: lourdes_mena@fws.gov. (Federal Register 19 December 2024 [Proposed Rule] Pages 103938-103989)