Pipanacoctomys aureus

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	OCTODONTIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pipanacoctomys aureus

Species Authority:

Mares, Braun, Barquez & Diaz, 2000

Common Name/s:

English

–

Golden Vizcacha Rat

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Critically Endangered B1ab(ii,iii) ver 3.1
Year Published:	2008
Assessor/s:	Lessa, E., Ojeda, R. & Bidau, C.
Reviewer/s:	Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)
Justification: Listed as Critically Endangered because its extent of occurrence is less than 100 km² and its area of occupancy is less than 10 km², all individuals are in a single location, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known only from type locality at Salar de Pipanaco in Catamarca province, Argentina (27°50'S; 66°15'W) (Wilson and Reeder 2005).
Countries:	Native: Argentina
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There is no information available on the population status of this species.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The habitat consists of perisaline shrublands associated with the salt pans of Pipanaco. Low shrubs dominate the area and the substrate is mainly sand with significant amounts of salt. The animals are restricted to a narrow band of halophytic plant habitat that lies between the bare salt and the more typical Monte Desert habitats (Mares et al., 2000). It specializes in feeding on halophite plants.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

The habitat consists of perisaline shrublands associated with the salt pans of Pipanaco. Low shrubs dominate the area and the substrate is mainly sand with significant amounts of salt. The animals are restricted to a narrow band of halophytic plant habitat that lies between the bare salt and the more typical Monte Desert habitats (Mares et al., 2000). It specializes in feeding on halophite plants.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The major threat to this species is loss of habitat to agricultural expansion, in the form of olive plantations. Its area of occupancy is less than 10 km² and all individuals are in a single location.

Major Threat(s):

The major threat to this species is loss of habitat to agricultural expansion, in the form of olive plantations. Its area of occupancy is less than 10 km² and all individuals are in a single location.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species has not been found in any protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

This species has not been found in any protected areas.

Citation:	Lessa, E., Ojeda, R. & Bidau, C. 2008. Pipanacoctomys aureus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 February 2012.
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