ATLANTA – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is listing the Key ring-necked snake and the rim rock crowned snake as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The listing provides the protections afforded by the Act to help conserve two of Florida's rarest native snakes and support their recovery. The final determination reflects the Service's commitment to using the best available science and provides a framework for federal, state, tribal and local partners to work together to protect the snakes and their habitat.
“Florida’s extraordinary wildlife and habitats are found nowhere else in the world, and protecting them takes strong partnerships and sound science,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Regional Director Mike Oetker. “This listing reflects our commitment to working with landowners, tribes, state and local agencies, and other partners to conserve these species and the ecosystems they depend on, ensuring they remain part of Florida’s natural heritage for future generations.”
The Key ring-necked snake and the rim rock crowned snake are small, nonvenomous snakes that inhabit limestone outcroppings within pine rocklands and rockland hammocks — ecosystems found only in Florida and the Bahamas. The Key ring-necked snake is found only in the Florida Keys, while the rim rock crowned snake occurs in Miami-Dade County and parts of the Florida Keys. Their limited distributions make both species especially vulnerable to environmental change.
The Endangered Species Act requires the Service to make listing determinations solely on the basis of the best available science and commercial data. Based on that information, the Service determined that the Key ring-necked snake and the rim rock crowned snake meet the Endangered Species Act's definition of endangered species. Both snakes are protected under Florida law as a state-designated threatened species.
This final listing rule does not designate critical habitat. A species receives the protections associated with listing regardless of whether critical habitat is designated.
More information about the Key ring-necked snake and the rim rock crowned snake is available in the Frequently Asked Questions.
This final rule is effective August 20, 2026. Supporting materials used in preparing this final rule and comments and materials received are available for public inspection at https://www.regulations.gov, Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2022-0022.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit https://www.fws.gov/program/southeast-region. Connect with us on social media: Facebook, X, Flickr, and YouTube.
