Agency Considers 374 Species for Protection

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has found that protection for 374 southeastern freshwater species in 12 states may be warranted under the Endangered Species Act. The agency will now launch a full 12-month status review of each species. The decision is part of a settlement agreement reached between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Center for Biological Diversity earlier this year compelling the agency to reach listing decisions on more than 700 species of plants and animals by 2018. The 374 species the agency will review include 89 species of crayfish and other crustaceans; 81 plants; 78 mollusks; 51 butterflies, moths, caddisflies and other insects; 43 fish; 13 amphibians; 12 reptiles, four mammals and three birds. The Center for Biological Diversity originally petitioned to list 404 species as threatened or endangered under the act...more