Service Finds Temblor Legless Lizard Not Warranted for Listing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed its review of a petition asking it to list the Temblor legless lizard under the Endangered Species Act. The agency concluded that the petition does not warrant listing the species as endangered or threatened.

Why it matters: This action closes the 12-month review of the petition and confirms the Temblor legless lizard will not be added to the federal list of endangered or threatened species. As a result, no new federal protections, land-use restrictions, or compliance requirements apply to the lizard or its habitat. The decision reflects the agency’s assessment that current threats do not rise to the level required to trigger listing protections.

Who it affects

• Landowners and resource managers in Kern, Kings, Fresno, and eastern San Luis Obispo counties who were monitoring the petition process.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published this 12-month not-warranted finding; readers should consult the full analysis in Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2026-0299 at regulations.gov before relying on this summary.

Agency: Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service
Source: Federal Register — read the official document