Regulations for Eleven Species Treated as Listed Due to Similarity of Appearance (Draft)
Sep. 29, 2025
USFWS propose to revise regulations issued under section 4(e) of the ESA related to furthering the conservation of the following listed endangered species and threatened species: Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis), bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri), Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), Florida panther (Puma (=Felis) concolor coryi), and pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). They propose to amend or remove regulations concerning taking or commerce in the following 11 similarity of appearance species: Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra), Barbour's map turtle (Graptemys barbouri), Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti), Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi), bog turtle, cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius theonus), ceraunus blue butterfly (Hemiargus ceraunus antibubastus), nickerbean blue butterfly (Cyclargus ammon), desert tortoise, (Puma (=Felis) concolor (all subspecies except coryi)), and shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus). They are proposing these changes to eliminate unnecessary regulations. They will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 27 October 2025. POC is John Tirpak, USFWS, Division of Conservation and Classification; telephone 703-358-2163; john_tirpak@fws.gov. (Federal Register 26 September 2025 [Proposed Rule] Pages 46371-46379)