[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-7227]


[Federal Register: March 28, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of a 
Finding on a Petition To List a Hawaiian Spider, Doryonychus raptor

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a finding on a petition.

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SUMMARY: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 90-
day petition finding on a pending petition to add an endemic Hawaiian 
spider, Doryonychus raptor, to the List of Endangered and Threatened 
wildlife. Substantial information has not been presented to indicate 
that the requested action may be warranted.

DATES: The finding announced in this document was made on June 8, 1992. 
Comments and materials related to this petition finding may be 
submitted to the Field Supervisor at the address below.

ADDRESSES: Information, comments, or questions concerning the status of 
the petitioned species should be submitted to Robert P. Smith, Field 
Supervisor, Pacific Islands Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 
Ala Moana Boulevard, room 6307, P.O. Box 50167, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850. 
The petition, finding, supporting data, and comments are available for 
public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert P. Smith at the above address (808/541-2749).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act), requires that the Service make 
a finding on whether a petition to list, delist, or reclassify a 
species presents substantial scientific or commercial information 
indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. To the maximum 
extent practicable, this finding is to be made within 90 days of the 
receipt of the petition, and the finding is to be published promptly in 
the Federal Register. If the Service finds that a petition presents 
substantial information indicating that a requested action may be 
warranted, then the Service initiates a status review on that species. 
The Service has received and made a 90-day finding on the following 
petition.
    On September 25, 1991, Dr. Rosemary G. Gillespie, Research Fellow 
of the Hawaiian Evolutionary Biology Program, University of Maryland at 
College Park, submitted a petition to list an endemic Hawaiian spider, 
Doryonychus raptor Simon, as an endangered species. The petition was 
received by the Service on September 27, 1991. After review of the 
petition and supporting documentation, the Fish and Wildlife Service 
finds that the petition does not present sufficient information to 
substantiate that the requested action may be warranted.
    Doryonychus raptor was initially discovered by R.C.L. Perkins in 
the 1890's, but had not been observed subsequently in the wild until 
the petitioner, Dr. Gillespie, reported the existence of D. raptor 
within the Hono O Na Pali Natural Area Reserve in 1990. Dr. Gillespie 
believes that this species is restricted to areas of low elevation, 
directly beneath high waterfalls emanating from the Alakai plateau on 
the island of Kauai. In addition to its limited range, D. raptor may be 
threatened by predation by alien species of spiders and ants. Since the 
rediscovery of the species, the petitioner has been actively collecting 
baseline data on the current distribution and abundance of D. raptor. 
However, because the historic distribution and abundance of the species 
is not known, there is no good comparative evidence that would support 
a determination that the species is in decline over all or a 
significant portion of its range at this point in time. In addition, 
the encroachment of alien plant species into the spider's habitat is 
not entirely a threat, as the spider is reported to be present in alien 
Psidium (guava) forests.

Author

    This document was prepared by Sharon R. Kobayashi, Pacific 
Islands Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, and Transportation.

    Dated: March 21, 1994.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-7227 Filed 3-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M