U.S. Blocks Salamander Imports to Prevent Deadly Fungus Spread

[{"selector":"#anim-b3d7d158-ee1a-4c46-934a-8d73ffaa6a10","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45fe550f-773b-47e9-b23a-abf9e34b27e9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcaadd7d-9a3f-4cf4-b803-d3c6e046a3d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5089f766-2f1e-4b0d-aca8-6590f374f8a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-123.30098%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] U.S. Blocks Salamander Imports to Prevent Deadly Fungus Spread Karmactive Staff

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implements new rules on salamander imports to shield native species from deadly Asian fungus spreading through pet trade.

[{"selector":"#anim-61a7e945-3eb2-4d46-a437-3390cf706829","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51cbff67-a225-4a0f-8026-b69954ef9c80","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-04e5f5c1-74e1-403f-a64d-3194091aad85","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d279e8c8-08bb-499f-8a07-2fa1f8da0fc4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1f1caa3-2cb5-4360-bccf-fc5397cfc213","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Camazine (CC BY-SA 3.0)

America, home to over 200 salamander species, faces potential devastation from Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans fungus that destroyed European salamander populations.

[{"selector":"#anim-5298a214-a7ad-4919-9a61-dba5adcc80dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18184b17-32b9-47f2-92e1-5e520ba604a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.34928%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7609b479-87b2-42c4-b79a-0465adc14d90","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7dcee113-d441-4350-b9f0-9b536c86b979","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5045fe6-dcfb-4b90-95b6-5e2ddf7cad59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Peter paplanus (CC BY 2.0)

Federal authorities ban import of 36 salamander types after the fungus nearly wiped out fire salamanders in Netherlands and Belgium.

[{"selector":"#anim-14bcdab7-0ad0-40bd-b742-86c6d35142a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2edae0e8-6a44-4bc4-8c11-290f842fe8fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89e33054-8d5f-4c07-83ac-99537a45e10e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45097f62-d8fa-4f50-adfa-eb18e28408dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a7ce15c5-35c8-4b28-8edb-bd3fba33aa35","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Petar Milošević (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Eastern newt populations across 33 states face direct threat from Bsal fungus, while rare striped newts in Southern wetlands near extinction.

[{"selector":"#anim-6c841586-ef55-41c7-adcf-daafaeba3bba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-081fc732-ca64-44f2-9dd4-0922b83b952f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.52108%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b6258d6-736d-4caf-87b9-7bec4bac29f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb24810b-1e2d-41c9-8d47-420089da0f8d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41f3b8bf-4f7c-4fca-b00f-a35fe546fb30","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Picryl (PDM 1.0)

One-third of U.S. salamanders are at risk of extinction, battling habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species pressures.

[{"selector":"#anim-fc600693-3a2b-477c-80c4-34903562788c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d50ccb2f-5af1-4596-ae5a-c08a06f20971","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef3df86f-f6ef-4edf-b544-9be91434f707","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37b5064c-e065-4802-8d5a-cb9b8a8d6536","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a23069d1-bd5e-4792-a12b-0b3420bf9960","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Wwarby/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Southeast region's unique biodiversity - hosting 33% of global crayfish and 40% of mussel species - receives protection through import restrictions.

[{"selector":"#anim-a50fe105-7de6-4fae-8460-ef85402d37b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4b14c87-21e8-4434-9b0e-5a2b0bfb8226","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.72400%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39f69e2f-a91d-4b75-8892-1a38dbeea790","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf544ab8-7cd5-4dec-abdd-eacfb8da99cc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c7dec99-3c9c-49d5-be65-64dd6af41ca3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Lord Mountbatten (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Wildlife Service's ban extends beyond salamanders to block two mussel types and invasive crayfish from entering U.S. waters.

[{"selector":"#anim-9cafc39e-9ef5-460f-8a2f-399f9f4e23b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e191e29a-dd35-42cc-9770-1e7ecfb1f4d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3000bd1-22b5-4d28-84cd-ed72172f9957","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-689628f3-449d-43b5-99cb-8f5189441757","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-703d8982-b7e1-490e-b2c9-43bac71055dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: ALAN SCHMIERER (CC0 1.0)

Import restrictions aim to prevent Bsal fungus carried on salamander skin from entering the country through commercial trade.

[{"selector":"#anim-4845bdc8-178a-4e9a-9ee4-537e7a87fbe5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b02329f-ba2a-41d5-8b17-108ae1e8755a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.52108%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b852a32-2f9c-4314-a9ea-935779ac94d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f852140-05e5-400f-9b57-3838cfff2b39","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-568a56c0-65ca-432b-af57-e05c9acc9ef9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Pierson Hill/FWC (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-6c8aeae6-4415-4792-b53f-73599ff006fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f49c182a-fa60-4a56-b5f9-65c412d59e82","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc8a110d-0aec-483b-879b-d1c043870152","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd22f678-30f8-4433-8c3e-cf50aae79077","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ebdc6bf0-d2cf-4776-9cee-ef0f1d779b27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] UCN: 390+ Shark and Ray Species Threatened by Overfishing Learn more