Collection, Trade & Regulation of Reptiles & Amphibians of the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion

113 Pages·2005·1.34 MB·English

Collection,
Trade, and
Regulation
of Reptiles and
Amphibians of
the Chihuahuan
Desert
Ecoregion
Lee A. Fitzgerald, Charles W. Painter,
Adrian Reuter, and Craig Hoover
COLLECTION, TRADE,
AND REGULATION OF
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
OF THE CHIHUAHUAN
DESERT ECOREGION
By
Lee A. Fitzgerald,
Charles W. Painter,
Adrian Reuter, and
Craig Hoover
August 2004
TRAFFIC North America
World Wildlife Fund
1250 24th Street NW
Washington DC 20037
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ISBN 0-89164-170-X
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TRAFFIC North America.
The views of the authors expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect
those of the TRAFFIC Network, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), or IUCN-The World
Conservation Union.
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Suggested citation:
Fitzgerald, L.A., et al. 2004. Collection, Trade, and Regulation of Reptiles and
Amphibians of the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion. TRAFFIC North America.
Washington D.C.: World Wildlife Fund.
Front cover photos from the top, clockwise, are: ridge-nosed rattlesnake Crotalus
willardi, ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus, collared lizard Crotaphytus
collaris, Berlandier’s tortoise Gopherus berlandieri, and imbricate alligator lizard
Barisia imbricata. All photos are © Joseph E. Forks.
Back cover photo, courtesy of Adrian Reuter, shows rattlesnake skins for sale at a
roadside market at Charco Cercado, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iv
BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
EXTENDED EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IN SPANISH (SINTESIS EN ESPAGÑOL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
SPECIES IN THE CDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
CHAPTER 1: ASSESSMENT OF THE COLLECTION, TRADE, AND
REGULATION OF REPTILES FROM THE CDE IN MEXICO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
1. Legal Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
1.1 Federal Laws and Other Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
1.2 UMAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
1.3 State Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
2. Protected Areas in the CDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
3. Collecting Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
4. Reptile Species Found in Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
5. Significant Domestic Trade Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
5.1 Plateros Magical-Religious Center, Zacatecas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
5.2 Charco Cercado, San Luis Potosi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
5.3 Mexico City Marketplaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
6. International Trade from Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Assessment of the Impacts of Collection and Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
CHAPTER 2: ASSESSMENT OF THE COLLECTION, TRADE, AND REGULATION OF
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS FROM THE CDE IN THE UNITED STATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
1. State and Federal Laws Pertaining to Collection and Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
i
1.1 New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
1.2 Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
1.3 Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
1.4 Federal Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
1.5 Protected Areas in the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
2. Reptile and Amphibian Species Found in Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
3. Collecting Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
4. Collecting Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
4.1 Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
4.2 New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
4.3 Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
5. Domestic Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
6. International Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
6.1 Availability and Usefulness of Trade Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
6.2 Export of Live Specimens from the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
6.3 Trade in Parts and Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
7. Illegal Collection and Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Assessment of the Impacts of Collection and Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
APPENDICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A1
Appendix 1: Norma Oficial Mexicana 059 (Official Norm 059) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2
Appendix 2: Laws regarding collecting amphibians and reptiles in New Mexico . . . . . .A13
Appendix 3: Laws regarding collecting amphibians and reptiles in Texas . . . . . . . . . . . .A17
Appendix 4: Laws regarding collecting amphibians and reptiles in Arizona . . . . . . . . . .A24
ii
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Map of the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Figure 2: Total Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion reptiles found in Mexico, and total number
found in trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Figure 3: Common uses of species subject to trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Figure 4: Distribution of 14 354 amphibians and reptiles collected in 27 Texas counties
within the CDE during 1998-99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Native amphibians and reptiles of the CDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Table 2: CDE reptile species subject to trade in and/or from Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Table 3: Live reptile seizures from 1995 to 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Table 4: CDE reptile species offered in Mexico City markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Table 5: Legal and illegal imports to the United States of CDE reptile species from Mexico . . . . .45
Table 6: Amphibians and reptiles native to the CDE listed as threatened or endangered
or otherwise fully protected by New Mexico State Game Commission Statute . . . . . . . . .51
Table 7: Native amphibians and reptiles of the CDE that are known or expected
to be taken for sale or personal use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Table 8: Number, percent of total, and cumulative percent of amphibians and reptiles
collected by nongame permit holders operating in the CDE in Texas in 1999 . . . . . . . . . .62
Table 9: Number of snakes, lizards, and turtles reported as collected by nongame permit
holders in Texas in 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Table 10: Number of specimens collected by 53 nongame permit holders operating in
the CDE in Texas in 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Table 11: U.S. exports of live reptile species found in the CDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Table 12: U.S. exports of reptile parts and products derived from species found in the CDE . . . . .69
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank Gracia González Porter for Arizona were provided by Michael Demlong,
information and insights on Mexican from New Mexico by Jon Klingel, and from
herpetofauna, and all of the interviewees who Texas by R. Roegner. We are also grateful for
shared their knowledge of the commercial the input of Jim Dixon, Bruce D. Taubert,
trade in amphibians and reptiles in the Andy Price, and Teresa Mulliken, who kindly
Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion (CDE). Special reviewed drafts of this report. We would also
thanks are owed to R. Roegner for providing like to thank the Walt Disney Company
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Foundation and World Wildlife Fund for their
(TPWD) database of nongame collectors and generous financial support for this project.
dealers for our use. Nongame regulations from
iv
BACKGROUND
TRAFFIC North America sought to obtain and and trade was outside the scope of this project,
compile information on the collection of and because of their similarity to reptile collection
trade in reptiles inhabiting the CDE. This and trade, some information on amphibians is
project was designed to provide baseline also included.
information on the species involved in legal
The Mexico portion of this report was prepared
and illegal trade, levels of trade, and status of
by Adrian Reuter. The United States portion
legislation and enforcement, and to identify
was prepared by Lee A. Fitzgerald and Charles
priorities for conservation of commercially
W. Painter. Both sections received
exploited herpetofauna from the CDE.
contributions from Craig Hoover.
Although investigation of amphibian collection
v
vi
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion (CDE), Fauna, the Cañón de Santa Elena Area for the
located in the central and northern regions of Protection of Flora and Fauna, the Mapimí
Mexico, and in southern Arizona and New Biosphere Reserve, the Maderas del Carmen
Mexico and west Texas in the United States, Area for the Protection of Flora and Fauna,
comprises desert and semi-desert regions and the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve.
among the most biologically diverse in the These protected areas cover in excess of
world. CDE reptile and amphibian bio- 1 million hectares.
diversity alone consists of approximately
Though there is some targeted hunting of
217 species. Many factors (e.g., habitat
reptiles, especially for more commercially
destruction) affect amphibian and reptile
valuable species such as rattlesnakes and
populations in the CDE. Though collection for
Bolson tortoises, collecting is frequently
the commercial trade may impact these
opportunistic. Domestic demand for pet
populations, the magnitude of this impact has
reptiles has increased in the recent past, and
not been thoroughly investigated and is poorly
there is an established trade in markets and
understood.
some pet stores within Mexico. Some of this
The objectives of this report are to: present trade is common in established markets, where
information gathered on collection, trade, and other pet animals such as aquarium fishes or
regulation of the amphibians and reptiles of songbirds are offered; however, the numerous
the CDE; assess the current and potential street markets in major urban centers as well as
impacts of collection and trade; evaluate the at some busy crossroads and stretches of road
effectiveness of existing regulations; and make also act as selling points. Most of this trade is
recommendations regarding the steps needed to targeted at nationals seeking personal pets or
ensure that collection and trade are sustainable for resale in established businesses.
and do not pose a significant threat to CDE
At least 82 species, or approximately 63% of
reptile and amphibian populations.
the approximately 130 reptile species found in
the Mexico portion of the CDE, are subject to
Mexico
some kind of trade. Most of this trade is
Reptiles have long played an important role in targeted at demand for pets, followed by
the lives of native Mexican people, as a source demands for meat, skins, and traditional
of food, clothing, arts and crafts manufacture, medicine. Of the 82 species identified in
traditional medicine, and other uses. The domestic or international trade, 6 are listed in
diversity of the Mexican CDE herpetofauna is Appendix I or II of the Convention on
among the highest in all desert ecoregions, International Trade in Endangered Species of
with more than 130 reptile species known to Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), 4 are classified
exist in the Chihuahuan Desert. as Threatened by IUCN—the World
Conservation Union (2002), and 51 in the
Mexico’s legal framework includes laws,
NOM 059 ECOL 2001. Seventeen of the 82
regulations, norms, international agreements,
species are endemic to Mexico. Rattlesnakes,
national plans, and governmental dispositions,
used for skins, rattles, meat, fat, venom, and as
all of which are used to promote the protection
live animals, are the most commonly traded
and sustainable use of Mexico’s natural
Chihuahuan Desert reptiles. Several reptile
resources, including its native reptiles. With
species, including Bolson tortoises Gopherus
limited exceptions—primarily involving
flavomarginatus, Coahuilan box turtle
noncommercial, scientific use—Mexico
Terrapene coahuila and black spiny softshells
prohibits the export of native reptiles and
Apalone ater, may be particularly threatened
amphibians, and all legal shipments must be
due to their population status.
accompanied by a permit. In addition to this
legal regime, there are five protected areas in Five main distribution and trade centers for
the CDE in Mexico, including the Cuatro CDE reptile species were identified in three
Ciénegas Area for the Protection of Flora and major areas, including: Plateros
1