Mesomys leniceps

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	ECHIMYIDAE

Scientific Name:

Mesomys leniceps

Species Authority:

Thomas, 1926

Common Name/s:

English

–

Woolly-headed Spiny Tree Rat

Taxonomic Notes:

This species was recognized as a species by Emmons (1990), but not by Eisenberg and Redford (1999) who placed it in Mesomys hispidus. Further taxonomic revision of this species is needed (B. Patterson pers. comm.).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Data Deficient ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Zeballos, H., Vivar, E. & Patterson, B.

Evaluator/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
Listed as Data Deficient in view of continuing problems with its taxonomy as well as absence of recent information on its extent of occurrence, status and ecological requirements.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known only from the type locality of Yambrasbamba (1,980 m asl), in the Andean foothills in northern Peru (Patton et al., 2000).
Countries:	Native: Peru
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	The abundance of this species is not known.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The species is found in montane tropical cloud forest. Nothing further is known about its habitat or ecology.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The habitat type that this species has been recorded from is under a lot of pressure from human encroachment. The species has been found in one of the most deforested areas in Peru.

Major Threat(s):

The habitat type that this species has been recorded from is under a lot of pressure from human encroachment. The species has been found in one of the most deforested areas in Peru.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It has been recorded from the Bosque de Proteccion Alto Mayo. Further studies into the distribution, habitat, ecology and threats to this species are needed.

Conservation Actions:

It has been recorded from the Bosque de Proteccion Alto Mayo. Further studies into the distribution, habitat, ecology and threats to this species are needed.

Citation:	Zeballos, H., Vivar, E. & Patterson, B. 2008. Mesomys leniceps. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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