Document

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Status Review for Black Caiman

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are initiating a 5-year status review for the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), a large caiman species in South America, under...

Department of the Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service
  1. [Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2026-3334; FXES1113090FEDR-267-FF09E21000]

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of initiation of status review.

SUMMARY:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are initiating a 5-year status review for the black caiman ( Melanosuchus niger), a large caiman species in South America, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). A 5-year status review is based on an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of the black caiman.

DATES:

To ensure consideration, we are requesting submission of new information no later than November 23, 2026. However, we will continue to accept new information about this listed species at any time.

ADDRESSES:

For instructions on how and where to submit information for the black caiman, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. Additional information on status reviews is available at www.fws.gov/​project/​five-year-status-reviews.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rachel London, Manager, Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species, Ecological Services Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 703-358-2171; . Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Why do we conduct 5-year status reviews?

Under the Act, we maintain Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (which we collectively refer to as the List) in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for wildlife) and 50 CFR 17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act requires us to review each listed species' status at least once every 5 years. Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing species under active review. For additional information about 5-year status reviews, refer to our fact sheet at www.fws.gov/​project/​five-year-status-reviews. A list of all completed and currently active 5-year status reviews can be found at ecos.fws.gov/​ecp/​report/​species-five-year-review.

What information do we consider in our reviews?

A 5-year status review considers the best scientific and commercial data available regarding the species at the time of the review. In conducting these reviews, we consider the best scientific and commercial data that have become available since the listing determination or most recent status review, such as:

1. Species' biology, including but not limited to population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics;

2. Habitat conditions, including but not limited to amount, distribution, and suitability;

3. Conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit the species;

4. Threat status and trends in relation to the five listing factors (as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the Act); and

5. Other new information, data, or corrections, including, but not limited to, changes in taxonomy or nomenclature, identification of erroneous information contained in the List, and improved analytical methods.

Any new information will be considered during the 5-year status review for the species.

Which species are under review?

This notice announces a 5-year status review for the black caiman, a large caiman species occurring in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, and Peru. We published a final rule to list the black caiman as an endangered species under the Act on June 14, 1976. (41 FR 24062) For additional information on the species, see our website at ecos.fws.gov/​ecp/​ and enter the species name in the search box.

Request for new information

To ensure that a 5-year status review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available, we request new information from all sources. If you submit information, please support it with documentation such as maps; bibliographic references; methods used to gather and analyze the data; and/or copies of any pertinent publications ( e.g., scientific journal articles), reports, or letters by knowledgeable sources. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your submission, you should be aware that your entire submission—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time.

Authority

We publish this notice under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Elizabeth Maclin,

Acting Assistant Director—Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 2026-19344 Filed 9-21-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Legal Citation

Federal Register Citation

Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.

91 FR 60145

Web Citation

Suggested Web Citation

Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.

“Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Status Review for Black Caiman,” thefederalregister.org (September 22, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-19344/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-initiation-of-5-year-status-review-for-black-caiman.