FWS Adds 23 Plants and Animals From Micronesian Islands to Endangered Species List

The Fish and Wildlife Service will add 23 species of plants and animals from Micronesia, the Mariana Islands, and Palau to the Endangered Species List. The agency’s final rule (here) lists as endangered seven plants — Eugenia bryanii, pau dedu, ufa halumtanu, Phyllanthus saffordii, aplokating palaoan, biringenas halumtanu, and Tinospora homosepala -- and nine animals, comprising the Pacific sheath-tailed bat, Slevin’s skink, Mariana eight-spot butterfly, Mariana wandering butterfly, Rota blue damselfly, fragile tree snail, Guam tree snail, humped tree snail and Langford’s tree snail. FWS is also listing seven plant species as threatened: siboyas halumtanu, Dendrobium guamense, fadang, Maesa walkeri, Nervilia jacksoniae, Tabernaemontana rotensis, and Tuberolabium guamense. Import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Nov. 2.