Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Reclassification of Yacare Caiman in South America From Endangered to Threatened, and the Listing of Two Other Caiman Species as Threatened by Reason of Similarity of Appearance

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to reclassify the yacare (Caiman yacare also known as Caiman crocodilus yacare) from its present endangered status to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act (Act) because the endangered listing does not correctly reflect the present status of this animal. The Service also proposes to list the common caiman (Caiman crocodilus crocodilus) and the brown caiman (Caiman crocodilus fuscus) as threatened by reason of similarity of appearance. The yacar is native to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia, and the other two caiman occur in Mexico and Central and South America. These three taxa are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Listing the two taxa as threatened by reason of similarity of appearance will assist in protecting the yacare caiman from uncontrolled use. A special rule is also proposed for these three species that would allow U.S. commerce in caiman skins, other parts and products from individual countries of origin and countries of re-export if certain pre-trade conditions are satisfied for those countries. The several conditi