www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/agric/xotkanml.pdf
RULE 7 EXEMPTIONS
1. List of Fish. All aquarium trade fish may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit except endangered species. The Division of Fish and Wildlife may have additional regulations if the species of fish is considered to be native or nuisance. Possession of the following species requires an exotic animal possession permit:
1. Grass Carp or White Amur (Ctenopharyngdon idella)
2. Piranha (Pygocentrus spp.and Serrasalmus spp.)
3. Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)
4. Walking Catfish (Clarias spp and all members of the family Clariidae)
5. Snakeheads (Channidae and Parachannidae)
2. List of Amphibians.
The RI DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife considers all exotic amphibians to be a potential nuisance, vector for disease, and a threat to native fauna. Therefore, possession of all exotic amphibians that are kept, housed, or maintained outdoors requires an exotic animal possession permit. All retail amphibian vendors must provide written notification to purchasers of this requirement and keep a log of all sales that include the following: 1) Name of purchaser, 2) Address of purchaser, 3) Date of purchase, 4) Purchaser’s signature, and 5) Species purchased. Permits will be granted on a case-by-case basis only to those
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applicants who will ensure that the animal(s) will be kept in a manner such that it has no possible means of escape into the wild. Refer to the RI DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife for additional regulations of native amphibian species.
3. List of Reptiles.
(a) Turtles: all exotic species of turtles may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit, except endangered species. Refer to The RI DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife for additional regulations of native turtle species. Possession of the following species requires an exotic animal possession permit:
1. Argentina or Chaco Tortoise (Geochelone chilensis). 2. Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) and all other species in the genus Gopherus. 3. Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri).
NOTE: the RI DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Regulations prohibit Possession of Red Eared Slider turtles
(b) Snakes: All venomous snakes require an exotic animal possession permit. Refer to The RI DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife for additional regulations of native snake species. The following snakes may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit except endangered species and the specific exceptions listed below:
1. All species of boas and pythons (family Boidae), may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit except those species that are endangered, and except the Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus), Green Tree Python (Chondropython spp.), African Rock Python (Python sebae), Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) and all species of Anaconda (Eunectes spp.). 2. Shield-tailed Snakes, Sunbeam Snakes, and others in the families Uropeltidae and
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Xenopeltidae may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit. 3. Worm Snakes, Thread Snakes, and others in the families Typhlopidae, Leptotyphlopidae, and Anomalepidae may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit. 4. Snakes of the family Colubridae, as follows may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit: Asian Rat Snakes (Elaphe spp. and Ptyas spp. and Zaocys spp.) Bogetophis spp. Brown and Redbelly Snakes (Storeria spp.) Diadem Snakes (Spalerosophis spp.) Garter and Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis spp.) Glossy Snakes (Arizona spp.) Gopher and Pine Snakes (Pituophis spp.) Green Snakes (Opheodrys spp.) Ground Snakes (Sonora spp.) House Snakes (Boaedon [Lamprophis] spp.) Kingsnakes and Milk Snakes (Lampropeltis spp.) North American Rat Snakes (Elaphe spp.) except the Black Rat Snake (E.o. obsoleta (other than albinistic and leucistic individuals) which requires a permit. Pseudaspis spp. Pseustes spp. Texas Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais erebennus) Tropical Rat Snakes (Spilotes spp.) Water Snakes (Nerodia [Natrix] spp.) Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus)
(c) Lizards: Possession of all chameleons (Chameontidae), the Gila Monster and Beaded Lizard (Heloderatidae), and all Monitors (Varanidae) requires an exotic animal possession permit. The following lizards may be kept without a permit except for endangered species. The Division of Fish and Wildlife may have additional
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regulations if the species of lizard is considered native or nuisance.
1. All Skinks (Scincidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit except for the following: Florida Sand Skinks (Neoseps spp.) Solomon Island Ground Skink (Tribolonotus spp.) 2. The following Girdle-tailed Lizards (Cordylidae) may be kept without a permit: False Club-tailed Lizards (Pseudocordylus spp.) Girdle-tailed Lizards (Cordylus spp.) Plated Lizards (Gerrhosaurus spp.) Rock Lizards (Platysaurus spp.) Zonosaurus spp. 3. All Teiids (Teiidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit except for the following: Brown Water Teiids (Neusticurus spp.) Dicrodon spp. Earless Teiids (Bachia spp.) Rough Teiids (Echinosaura spp.) Snake Teiids (Ophiognomon spp.) Spectacled Teiids (Gymnophthalmus spp.) Worm Teiids (Scolacosaurus spp.) 4. The following Lacertid Lizards (Lacertidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit: Acanthodactylus spp. Gallotia spp. Lacerta spp. Podarcis spp. Psammodromus spp. 5. The following Lateral-fold Lizards (Anguidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit permit: Alligator Lizards (Gerrhonotus spp.) Glass Lizards (Ophisaurus spp.) Slowworm (Anguis spp.) 6. All Gekkos (Gekkonidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit except the Big Bend Gekko (Coleonyx reticulatus).
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7. The following Iguanid Lizards (Iguanidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit: Basilisks (Basiliscus spp.) Collared and Leopard Lizards (Crotaphytus spp.) Common or Green Iguanas (Iguana i. iguana) False or Spring-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaurus spp.) Liolaemus spp. New World Chameleons (Anolis spp. and Ctenotus spp.) Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus spp.) Tree and Bush Lizards (Urosaurus spp.) Uranoscodon spp. Zebra-tailed Lizards (Callisaurus spp.) 8. The following Agamid Lizards (Agamidae) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit: Amphibolorus spp. Calotes spp. Hydrosaurus spp. Pogona spp. Water Dragon (Physignathus spp.) 9. Night Lizards (Xantusidae): All Night Lizards (Xantusia spp.) may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit, except for the Utah Night Lizard (Xantusia virgilis utahensis).
4. List of Birds.
(a) Possession of the following groups of birds is prohibited without a permit issued by the USFWS and if the bird is considered native, a permit issued by RIDEM Division of Fish & Wildlife:
1. Endangered species of birds. 2. Migratory birds listed in the Code of Federal Regulations, 50 CFR 10.13. (Migratory Bird Treaty Act).
NOTE: RI DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife Regulations prohibits the possession of mute swans or their eggs.
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(b) The following birds or groups of birds may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit:
1. Blue or Button Quail (Coturnix chinensis) 2. Columbidae (pigeons and doves) 3. Estrildidae (Waxbills and allies) 4. Fringillidae (Finches and allies) 5. Ploceidae (Weaver Finches except the Red-billed, Black-fronted, and Sudan Diochs, which require a permit) 6. Psittacidae (parrots and their allies) except for Myiopsitta monachus Monk Parakeet, which requires a permit 7. Ramphastidae (Toucans, Aracaris, and Toucanets) 8. Sturnidae (Starlings and Mynahs, except the Rose-colored Starling (Pink Starling or Rosy Pastor) (Sturnus roseus), which requires a permit)
5. List of Mammals.
The following mammals may be kept without an exotic animal possession permit:
1. Four-toed (African pygmy) hedgehog (Erinaceus albiventris) (=Atelerix pruneri)
2. Chinchilla (Chinchilla spp.) derived from captive stock
3. Deer Mouse and White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus and P. leucopus)
4. Degu (Octodon degus)
5. Egyptian Spiny Mouse (Acomys cahirinus)
6. House Mouse (Mus musculus)
7. Jerboas (Dipus spp.)
8. Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
9. Paca (Cuniculus spp.)
10. Striped hamster (Cricetulus barabensis), also known as the Chinese or Siberian dwarf hamster.
11. Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps)
12. Ferret (Mustela putorius)
NOTE: Possession of a ferret does not require obtaining an exotic animal possession permit. Possession of a ferret does require a ferret possession permit issued through the Division of Fish & Wildlife.
