Mus famulus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	MURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Mus famulus

Species Authority:

Bonhote, 1898

Common Name/s:

English

–

Bonhote’s Mouse, Servant Mouse

Taxonomic Notes:

This species belongs to subgenus Coelomys Thomas, 1915. Ellerman (1961) listed three subspecies, namely Mus famulus famulus Bonhote, 1898, Mus famulus cooki (sic) (Ryley, 1914) and Mus famulus popaeus (Thomas, 1919). Mus famulus cooki (sic) (Ryley, 1914) is now considered as a separate species Mus cookii Ryley, 1914, and Mus famulus popaeus (Thomas, 1919) - earlier reported as Leggada nitidula popaea Thomas, 1919, has been proposed to be a subspecies of Mus cervicolor by Corbet and Hill (1992). Thus, presently only Mus famulus Bonhote, 1898 is a valid name from the region.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(ii,iii) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Pradhan, M.S., Molur, S. & Nameer, P.O.

Evaluator/s:

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

Justification:
Listed as Endangered because its extent of occurrence is less than 5,000 km², all individuals are in fewer than five locations, its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.

History:

2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to the Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India, restricted to four fragmented locations (Eravikulam National Park, Avalanche, Kalapatti and Coonoor) at elevations ranging from 1,540 to 2,400 m asl (Agrawal 2000; Molur et al. 2005; Pradhan 2002; Pradhan and Kurup 2001).
Countries:	Native: India (Andaman Is., Nicobar Is.)
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	This is a very rare species.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is a nocturnal and terrestrial species. It occurs in tropical and sub tropical evergreen montane forest and shola grasslands. It has been found to occupy high altitude evergreen forests (Molur et al. 2005).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Outside of protected areas the habitat quality is affected due to general human interference (conversion of land to other uses).

Major Threat(s):

Outside of protected areas the habitat quality is affected due to general human interference (conversion of land to other uses).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is listed in the Schedule V (considered as vermin) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It has been recorded from Eravikulam National Park in Kerala and Mukurthi National Park in Tamil Nadu. General field surveys, research into the natural history and monitoring of populations are recommended for this species (Molur et al. 2005). There is a need to develop captive breeding and husbandry techniques for species recovery actions (Molur et al. 2005).

Conservation Actions:

It is listed in the Schedule V (considered as vermin) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It has been recorded from Eravikulam National Park in Kerala and Mukurthi National Park in Tamil Nadu. General field surveys, research into the natural history and monitoring of populations are recommended for this species (Molur et al. 2005). There is a need to develop captive breeding and husbandry techniques for species recovery actions (Molur et al. 2005).

Citation:	Pradhan, M.S., Molur, S. & Nameer, P.O. 2008. Mus famulus. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 November 2009.
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