(a) The importation, transportation, or acquisition of any live or dead specimen or hybrid, including parts (except for eggs or gametes; parts or tissues that have been chemically preserved, chemically treated, or heat treated so that the pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, if present, is rendered non-viable; and molecular specimens consisting of only the nucleic acids from organisms), of all species in the genera Ambystoma, Andrias, Aneides, Aquiloeurycea, Calotriton, Chioglossa, Chiropterotriton, Cryptobranchus, Cynops, Desmognathus, Ensatina, Euproctus, Eurycea, Hydromantes, Hynobius, Ichthyosaura, Laotriton, Lissotriton, Neurergus, Notophthalmus, Ommatotriton, Onychodactylus, Pachytriton, Paramesotriton, Plethodon, Pleurodeles, Proteus, Pseudobranchus, Pseudotriton, Salamandra, Salamandrella, Salamandrina, Siren, Taricha, Triturus, and Tylototriton is prohibited except as provided under the terms and conditions set forth at § 16.22 of this part.

(b) Upon the filing of a written declaration with the District Director of Customs at the port of entry as required under § 14.61 of this chapter, all other species of amphibians may be imported, transported, and possessed in captivity, without a permit, for scientific, medical, education, exhibition, or propagating purposes, but no such amphibians or any progeny or eggs thereof may be released into the wild except by the State wildlife conservation agency having jurisdiction over the area of release or by persons having prior written permission for release from such agency.