Rheomys mexicanus

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	CRICETIDAE

Scientific Name:

Rheomys mexicanus

Species Authority:

Goodwin, 1959

Common Name/s:

English

–

Mexican Water Mouse

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(iii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Timm, R., Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. & Lacher, T.

Reviewer/s:

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

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

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/near threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to Oaxaca, México (Musser and Carleton 2005). It is only known from Guelatao, San Jose Lachiquiri, Union Hildalgo and Tontatepec on the Pacific slope of Oaxaca (Santos-Moreno et al. 2003).
Countries:	Native: Mexico
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species is considered rare, and has only been recorded from 4 localities within its range (Santos-Moreno et al. 2003). The species distribution is likely severely fragmented.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is poorly known. It is a semi-aquatic species relying on the freshwater environment as a food source (Nowak 1999). It is restricted to forested riparian areas at the headwaters of streams, in particular it is restricted to small tributaries with closed tropical forest vegetation, and does not occur in larger rivers. This species requires a pristine habitat, any kind of pollution in water resources is a threat to this species. An adult male was found clogging a hosepipe used to collect water from the Rio Yavesia at 2,000 m in an area charcterized by pine-oak forest (Santos-Moreno et al. 2003).
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is poorly known. It is a semi-aquatic species relying on the freshwater environment as a food source (Nowak 1999). It is restricted to forested riparian areas at the headwaters of streams, in particular it is restricted to small tributaries with closed tropical forest vegetation, and does not occur in larger rivers. This species requires a pristine habitat, any kind of pollution in water resources is a threat to this species.

An adult male was found clogging a hosepipe used to collect water from the Rio Yavesia at 2,000 m in an area charcterized by pine-oak forest (Santos-Moreno et al. 2003).

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species is threatened by human activity within its range, specifically by continued deforestation and water pollution. Any type of water pollution, including household pollution from washing clothes, is considered a threat to this species. Deforestation is occurring throughout the range of this species, except in steep riparian areas.

Major Threat(s):

This species is threatened by human activity within its range, specifically by continued deforestation and water pollution. Any type of water pollution, including household pollution from washing clothes, is considered a threat to this species. Deforestation is occurring throughout the range of this species, except in steep riparian areas.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	More research is needed to determine the status of this species population and its specialized habitat.

Conservation Actions:

More research is needed to determine the status of this species population and its specialized habitat.

Citation:	Timm, R., Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. & Lacher, T. 2008. Rheomys mexicanus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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