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 Visit www.traffic.org for an electronic edition of this report, and for more information about TRAFFIC North America. © 2004 WWF. All rights reserved by World Wildlife Fund, Inc. ISBN 0-89164-170-X All material appearing in this publication is copyrighted and may be reproduced with permission. Any reproduction, in full or in part, of this publication must credit 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. The designation of geographical entities in this publication and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of TRAFFIC or its supporting organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The TRAFFIC symbol copyright and Registered Trademark ownership are held by WWF. TRAFFIC is a joint program of WWF and IUCN. 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. T C ABLE OF ONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iv BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 EXTENDED EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IN SPANISH (SINTESIS EN ESPAGÑOL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 SPECIES INTHE CDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 CHAPTER 1: ASSESSMENT OFTHE COLLECTION,TRADE,AND REGULATION OF REPTILES FROMTHE 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 OFTHE COLLECTION,TRADE,AND REGULATION OF REPTILESANDAMPHIBIANS FROMTHE CDE INTHE 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 L F IST OF IGURES 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 L T IST OF ABLES 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 A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS 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 B ACKGROUND 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 E S XECUTIVE UMMARY 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