Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status for the Goliath Frog

Zusammenfassung

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that additional information received during the comment period on the proposed rule to list the goliath frog (Conraua goliath) as threatened leaves questions as to whether the listing is warranted. The Service has therefore reopened the comment period through October 17, 1994, on the proposed action to list the goliath frog as threatened. Information received indicated that the species has a slightly wider distribution, occurs in a wider range of aquatic habitats, and may be more abundant than believed at the time that the proposed rule was issued. In addition, local utilization and international trade appears to be less of a threat to the species. Additional information on each of these considerations is sought. Furthermore, there remains the concern about the effect of the unquantified and undescribed effect of loss of rainforest habitat on goliath frog populations, and the projections for additional habitat loss. Information is also sought of these issues, as well as any population estimates or surveys.