The “desert” pupfish five-year review

Authors: Douglas K. Duncan

Year: 2010 (xlii)

Abstract

The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) [Section 4(c)(2)] requires that the status of listed species be reviewed periodically to insure that the classification as threatened or endangered is accurate. Additional recommendations on conservation measures and other actions can be made in the five-year review. We just completed the five-year review for the desert pupfish. Under the ESA, the “desert” pupfish is Cyprinodon macularius, and includes the “Quitobaquito” pupfish, C. m. eremus as the listed entities. The five-year review recommends changing the taxa covered by the act to reflect the current taxonomy and common names: desert pupfish Cyprinodon macularius; Rio Sonoyta pupfish C. eremus; and Santa Cruz pupfish C. arcuatus (extinct). The other main recommendation is to update the desert pupfish recovery plan to incorporate information on management units in the Salton Sink.