CITES Listed Species

"RECOGNIZING that wild fauna and flora in their many beautiful and varied forms are an irreplaceable part of the natural systems of the earth which must be protected for this and the generations to come." Preamble of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

What are CITES Appendices I, II, and III?
Species are listed by the CITES Parties (countries) at one of three levels of protection (referred to as appendices), which have different requirements. Parties regulate trade in specimens (live and dead) of Appendix-I, -II, and -III species and their hybrids, parts, products, and derivatives through a system of permits and certificates (CITES documents). Such documents enable Parties to monitor the effects of the volume and type of trade to ensure trade is legal and not detrimental to the survival of the species.

Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction that are or may be affected by trade. Trade in Appendix-I specimens may only take place in exceptional circumstances.
Appendix II includes species that are not presently threatened with extinction, but may become so if their trade is not regulated. It also includes species that need to be regulated so that trade in certain other Appendix-I or -II species may be effectively controlled; these species are most commonly listed due to their similarity of appearance to other related CITES species.
Appendix III includes species listed by a range country to obtain international cooperation in controlling trade.

Is My Species Listed by CITES?
The following web pages provide information on how to determine if a species is listed in the CITES appendices.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Publication of the CITES list. The USFWS unofficial list in an easy-to-use format is being revised and is temporarily unavailable.
CITES Secretariat Official list. The CITES Secretariat maintains the official list of CITES species on its website.
- CITES Species (general overview)
- CITES Appendices I, II, and III
- Search by common or scientific name

Do I Need to Check Other Species Lists?
Many CITES-listed species are also protected under other conservation laws and treaties. For further information, please refer to these species lists.

Last updated: November 20, 2008