The Florida bristle fern, found only in pine woods in Miami-Dade and Sumter counties, is among five new candidates for the federal list of endangered and threatened species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, charged with protecting rare species, released its annual update of species under review on Friday.

The Florida bonneted bat, which is found in only a dozen places in South and Central Florida, was also added. Until formally listed, candidate species do not receive special protection but can qualify for federal conservation programs.

-- CURTIS MORGAN

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