Notice2026-19344
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Status Review for Black Caiman
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 22, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are initiating a 5-year status review for the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), a large caiman species in South America, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). A 5-year status review is based on an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of the black caiman.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 182 (Tuesday, September 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 60145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19344]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2026-3334; FXES1113090FEDR-267-FF09E21000]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Status Review for Black Caiman
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of initiation of status review.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are
initiating a 5-year status review for the black caiman (Melanosuchus
niger), a large caiman species in South America, under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). A 5-year status review is based
on an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available
at the time of the review. We ask the public to submit to us at any
time any new information relevant to the status of the black caiman.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we are requesting submission of new
information no later than November 23, 2026. However, we will continue
to accept new information about this listed species at any time.
ADDRESSES: For instructions on how and where to submit information for
the black caiman, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. Additional
information on status reviews is available at <a href="https://www.fws.gov/project/five-year-status-reviews">https://www.fws.gov/project/five-year-status-reviews</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel London, Manager, Branch of
Delisting and Foreign Species, Ecological Services Program, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service; 703-358-2171; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ff8d9e9c979a93a09390919b9091bf99888cd1989089"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b091a18131e17241714151f14153b1d0c08551c140d">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals
in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have
a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Why do we conduct 5-year status reviews?
Under the Act, we maintain Lists of Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plants (which we collectively refer to as the List) in
title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for
wildlife) and 50 CFR 17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act
requires us to review each listed species' status at least once every 5
years. Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a
notice in the Federal Register announcing species under active review.
For additional information about 5-year status reviews, refer to our
fact sheet at <a href="https://www.fws.gov/project/five-year-status-reviews">https://www.fws.gov/project/five-year-status-reviews</a>. A
list of all completed and currently active 5-year status reviews can be
found at <a href="https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/report/species-five-year-review">https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/report/species-five-year-review</a>.
What information do we consider in our reviews?
A 5-year status review considers the best scientific and commercial
data available regarding the species at the time of the review. In
conducting these reviews, we consider the best scientific and
commercial data that have become available since the listing
determination or most recent status review, such as:
1. Species' biology, including but not limited to population
trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics;
2. Habitat conditions, including but not limited to amount,
distribution, and suitability;
3. Conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit
the species;
4. Threat status and trends in relation to the five listing factors
(as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the Act); and
5. Other new information, data, or corrections, including, but not
limited to, changes in taxonomy or nomenclature, identification of
erroneous information contained in the List, and improved analytical
methods.
Any new information will be considered during the 5-year status
review for the species.
Which species are under review?
This notice announces a 5-year status review for the black caiman,
a large caiman species occurring in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador,
French Guiana, Guyana, and Peru. We published a final rule to list the
black caiman as an endangered species under the Act on June 14, 1976.
(41 FR 24062) For additional information on the species, see our
website at <a href="https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/">https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/</a> and enter the species name in the
search box.
Request for new information
To ensure that a 5-year status review is based on the best
scientific and commercial data available, we request new information
from all sources. If you submit information, please support it with
documentation such as maps; bibliographic references; methods used to
gather and analyze the data; and/or copies of any pertinent
publications (e.g., scientific journal articles), reports, or letters
by knowledgeable sources. Before including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personal identifying information in your
submission, you should be aware that your entire submission--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time.
Authority
We publish this notice under the authority of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Elizabeth Maclin,
Acting Assistant Director--Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-19344 Filed 9-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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