ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Following a petition and legal victory by the Center for Biological Diversity and reptile ecologist Renata Platenberg, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to protect four skinks found only in the Caribbean. The agency also proposed designating more than 150,400 acres of protected critical habitat for the four rare lizards.

Three other skink species will not get protection because the Service has deemed that they have gone extinct.

“I’m relieved that these lustrous lizards will finally get the safeguards they need, but it’s tragic that three other skinks went extinct waiting for protection,” said Elise Bennett, Florida and Caribbean director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “In the decade since we petitioned to protect them, threats have only increased. We’re seeing more and more high-intensity storms slam the Caribbean, putting people and native wildlife at risk. Endangered Species Act protections will give these rare reptiles a fighting chance to weather the climate emergency.”

The Service proposed protecting the Puerto Rican skink, lesser Virgin Islands skink and Virgin Islands bronze skink as endangered. It also proposed protecting the Culebra skink, found on islands off Puerto Rico, as threatened.

“It’s encouraging that the Service has considered the dire situation of these animals in protecting them and in providing support for the work that will be needed in their recovery,” said Renata Platenberg, Ph.D, “I’m also deeply saddened that several skink species have been deemed extinct during the course of this long listing process. The unique nature found on each of these individual islands continues to be threatened from ongoing risks, and it’s my hope that this listing will encourage more conservation efforts for these fragile ecosystems.”

For the Puerto Rican skink, the Service proposed 143,947 acres of critical habitat on Puerto Rico and Desecheo Island. For the Culebra skink, the agency proposed 5,648 acres of critical habitat on five small islands off Puerto Rico (Culebra Island, Cayo Botella, Cayo del Agua, Cayo Yerba and Cayo Lobito).

For the lesser Virgin Islands skink, the Service proposed 477 acres of critical habitat on Hans Lollik Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. For the Virgin Islands bronze skink, the Service proposed 392 acres of critical habitat on Water Island, Buck Island and Turtledove Cay in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In addition to habitat destruction and threats from non-native predators like cats, mongooses and rats, climate change is causing sea-level rise and extreme storm events like the deadly Category 5 hurricanes Maria, Irma and Beryl, which damaged the limited habitat of these entirely island-dwelling species. As many of the skink’s islands are small and low in elevation, they are particularly vulnerable.

The Service also concluded that protections were not warranted for the greater Virgin Islands skink, greater Saint Croix skink and lesser Saint Croix skink, all from the Virgin Islands, because they are likely extinct. However, the agency asked the public to share any recent information they may have on the three species.

The Service has been chronically slow at protecting species. At least 47 species have gone extinct waiting for protection. Today’s announcement raises this total to 50 species.

“This sad finding only underscores why speedy endangered species decisions are critical,” Bennett said. “For these poor skinks, and so many other species, protections are taking far too long and aren’t being implemented with the intensity that existential threats like climate change warrant.”

In today’s decision, the Service determined that the Mona skink, found on one island off Puerto Rico, did not warrant protections, concluding that it is relatively resilient to existing threats.

The Service will accept comments on the proposed protections through Feb. 17, 2025.

Background
Caribbean skinks, which can grow to be about 8 inches long, are unique among reptiles in having reproductive systems similar to that of humans, including a placenta and live birth. They have cylindrical bodies and most have ill-defined necks that, together with their sinuous movements and smooth, bronze-colored skin, make them look like stubby snakes with legs.

Scientists identified the skinks as separate species in a 2012 study. All are considered critically endangered or endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, and they are absent or extremely rare across most of their former ranges.

The Center petitioned to protect the skinks in 2014 with Renata Platenberg, an ecologist specializing in Caribbean reptiles.

Three of the species included in today’s notice are from the territory of Puerto Rico: the Culebra skink (Culebra and the adjacent islet of Culebrita), Mona skink (Mona Island) and Puerto Rican skink (Puerto Rico and several of its satellite islands).

The remaining five are from the Virgin Islands: the greater St. Croix skink (St. Croix and its satellite Green Cay), lesser St. Croix skink (St. Croix), greater Virgin Islands skink (St. John and St. Thomas), Virgin Islands bronze skink (St. Thomas and several of its islets, several British Virgin Islands) and lesser Virgin Islands skink (St. Thomas and two adjacent islets and several British Virgin Islands).