In a significant development for wildlife conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on February 5, 2024, that the Plateau spot-tailed earless lizard, a species native to the Edwards Plateau region of Central and West Texas, will not be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This decision follows comprehensive research revealing several robust populations of the lizard across its historical range.
Jeff Fleming, Acting Southwest Regional Director of the Service, expressed enthusiasm over the findings, stating, “We are excited to share the positive news that the Plateau spot-tailed earless lizard’s population is healthy and does not require protection under the ESA.” He attributed this success to the “dedicated efforts of researchers and conservation partners” whose extensive data collection efforts have enabled informed decisions about the lizard’s conservation status.
This determination marks another instance where species in Texas have been found to not require ESA protection, a trend attributed to rigorous scientific research and proactive conservation initiatives. Similar findings have been made for the Plains spotted skunk in 2023 and the desert massasauga in 2020.
The collaborative efforts of federal agencies, states, Tribes, and private landowners have been instrumental in conservation, with 58 other fish, wildlife, and plant species in the Southwest avoiding ESA listing. The Plateau spot-tailed earless lizard, known for its distinctive spots and small ears hidden behind skin flaps, is a testament to these efforts.
The journey to this decision began when a petition filed in 2010 to protect the species and its two subspecies under the ESA prompted a request for more scientific information from the Service. Funding from The Texas Comptroller’s Office and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department facilitated crucial research by university researchers. This research included surveys, genetic documentation, and habitat needs assessment, providing the foundation for the Service’s peer-reviewed Species Status Assessment.
The assessment concluded that despite facing some stressors such as habitat loss and vehicle collisions, the species maintains resilient populations capable of withstanding unpredictable events. Michael Warriner, Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the Austin Ecological Services Field Office, highlighted the role of scientific research in conservation, stating, “Through rigorous research and monitoring conducted by universities in Texas, we gained a deeper understanding of this species and its population dynamics, ultimately finding that it is not in danger of extinction.”
Further research distinguished the Plateau spot-tailed earless lizard and the Tamaulipan spot-tailed earless lizard as distinct species, with the latter still under review for ESA listing.
The collaborative conservation efforts, transparency, and science-driven ESA findings involved diverse stakeholders, including Texas Comptroller’s Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, several Texas universities, and The Nature Conservancy.
Image Credit: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
