The Fish and Wildlife Service today issued a proposal to add the native hellbender and its subspecies to Appendix III of CITES in an effort to monitor the trade in the species. Found in the heartland of the Eastern United States, these giant salamanders are the third largest salamander species in the world.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to include the hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), a large aquatic salamander, including its two subspecies, the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) and the Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi), in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or Convention), including live and dead whole specimens, and all readily recognizable parts, products, and derivatives. Listing hellbenders in Appendix III of CITES is necessary to allow us to adequately monitor international trade in the taxon; to determine whether exports are occurring legally, with respect to State law; and to determine whether further measures under CITES or other laws are required to conserve this species...

Hellbenders have been classified an endangered species in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri and Ohio, and "rare" or "of special concern" in Georgia, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.

The species has been in decline due to a number of factors, including an increase in the number of dams, reduced water quality, collection for the pet trade, and persecution by fishermen who view them as a threat. Hellbenders like, many of the worlds amphibians, are also susceptible to Chytridiomycosis

The proposal was published in today's Federal Register (Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 8, 2010), and those who wish to submit comments need to do so by or before November 8, 2010.

Comments may be submitted to www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS–R9–IA–2009–0033.