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(a) The list in this section contains the names of all species of wildlife which have been determined by the Services to be Endangered or Threatened. It also contains the names of species of wildlife treated as Endangered or Threatened because they are sufficiently similar in appearance to Endangered or Threatened species (see § 17.50 et seq.).

(b) The columns entitled “Common Name,” “Scientific Name,” and “Vertebrate Population Where Endangered or Threatened” define the species of wildlife within the meaning of the Act. Thus, differently classified geographic populations of the same vertebrate subspecies or species shall be identified by their differing geographic boundaries, even though the other two columns are identical. The term “Entire” means that all populations throughout the present range of a vertebrate species are listed. Although common names are included, they cannot be relied upon for identification of any specimen, since they may vary greatly in local usage. The Services shall use the most recently accepted scientific name. In cases in which confusion might arise, a synonym(s) will be provided in parentheses. The Services shall rely to the extent practicable on the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

(d) The other data in the list are nonregulatory in nature and are provided for the information of the reader. In the annual revision and compilation of this title, the following information may be amended without public notice: the spelling of species' names, historical range, footnotes, references to certain other applicable portions of this title, synonyms, and more current names. In any of these revised entries, neither the species, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section, nor its status may be changed without following the procedures of part 424 of this title.

(e) The “historic range” indicates the known general distribution of the species or subspecies as reported in the current scientific literature. The present distribution may be greatly reduced from this historic range. This column does not imply any limitation on the application of the prohibitions in the Act or implementing rules. Such prohibitions apply to all individuals of the species, wherever found.

(f) (1) A footnote to the Federal Register publication(s) listing or reclassifying a species is indicated under the column “When listed.” Footnote numbers to §§ 17.11 and 17.12 are in the same numerical sequence, since plants and animals may be listed in the same Federal Register document. That document, at least since 1973, includes a statement indicating the basis for the listing, as well as the effective date(s) of said listing.

(2) The “Special rules” and “Critical habitat” columns provide a cross reference to other sections in parts 17, 222, 226, or 227. The “Special rules” column will also be used to cite the special rules that describe experimental populations and determine if they are essential or nonessential. Separate listing will be made for experimental populations, and the status column will include the following symbols: “XE” for an essential experimental population and “XN” for a nonessential experimental population. The term “NA” (not applicable) appearing in either of these two columns indicates that there are no special rules and/or critical habitat for that particular species. However, all other appropriate rules in parts 17, 217 through 227, and 402 still apply to that species. In addition, there may be other rules in this title that relate to such wildlife, e.g., port-of-entry requirements. It is not intended that the references in the “Special rules” column list all the regulations of the two Services which might apply to the species or to the regulations of other Federal agencies or State or local governments.

(g) The listing of a particular taxon includes all lower taxonomic units. For example, the genus Hylobates (gibbons) is listed as Endangered throughout its entire range (China, India, and SE Asia); consequently, all species, subspecies, and populations of that genus are considered listed as Endangered for the purposes of the Act. In 1978 (43 FR 6230-6233) the species Haliaeetus leucocephalus (bald eagle) was listed as Threatened in “USA (WA, OR, MN, WI, MI)” rather than its entire population; thus, all individuals of the bald eagle found in those five States are considered listed as Threatened for the purposes of the Act.