Bassariscus sumichrasti

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	CARNIVORA	PROCYONIDAE

Scientific Name:

Bassariscus sumichrasti

Species Authority:

(Saussure, 1860)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Cacomistle, Central American Cacomistle
French	–	Bassarai Rusé
Spanish	–	Babisuri, Basáride, Guayanoche, Mico De Noche, Mico Rayado

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Samudio, R., Pino, J.L. & Helgen, K.

Reviewer/s:

Duckworth, J.W. (Small Carnivore Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern as the species has a wide distribution range, is present in a variety of habitats including cloud and evergreen forests, scrub and secondary forest, and occurs in numerous protected areas. However it may be undergoing some localized declines due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

History:

1996	–	Lower Risk/near threatened
1994	–	Vulnerable (Groombridge 1994)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	The species occurs from Mexico (Guerrero and south Veracruz) through Mesoamerica to central Panama (Lake Bayano). Its occurrence is unknown in Nicaragua.
Countries:	Native: Belize; Costa Rica; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The status of its population is unknown. It is suspected to be uncommon over much of its range (Glatston, 1994), however, it can be locally common. It is common in the remnant forests of Veracruz, but it is rare in Panama (Emmons, 1990). It is suspected to be fairly common in some portions of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras and patchily distributed in Guatemala and Mexico (Poglayen-Neuwall pers. comm.).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Population:

The status of its population is unknown. It is suspected to be uncommon over much of its range (Glatston, 1994), however, it can be locally common. It is common in the remnant forests of Veracruz, but it is rare in Panama (Emmons, 1990). It is suspected to be fairly common in some portions of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras and patchily distributed in Guatemala and Mexico (Poglayen-Neuwall pers. comm.).

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The cacomistle is nocturnal, arboreal, and solitary. It feeds on fruits, insects, and probably small vertebrates. Cacomistles use the middle and upper levels of tropical forests. It is found in both montane and lowland rain forest, in wet evergreen forest as well as seasonally dry forest, scrub, and secondary forest (Glatston, 1994).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Loss of habitat due to deforestation is a major threat. In Mexico the rate of forest clearance is tremendously high and forest fragmentation is also a major problem. In addition, it is hunted in Honduras and Mexico for its fur and for meat by indigenous people (Nowak, 2005).

Major Threat(s):

Loss of habitat due to deforestation is a major threat. In Mexico the rate of forest clearance is tremendously high and forest fragmentation is also a major problem. In addition, it is hunted in Honduras and Mexico for its fur and for meat by indigenous people (Nowak, 2005).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The cacomistle is listed in CITES Appendix III by Costa Rica, and it is also listed as an endangered species in Costa Rica. In Belize it is covered by the Wildlife Protection Act. It is not protected by law in Panama. Elsewhere the situation is unknown. Cacomistles are known to occur in the proposed Volcano Baro National Park in Panama, in the Monte Cristo National Park in El Salvador and in the Cockscomb Basin Reserve in Belize and may be living in a number of protected areas where there is suitable habitat (Glatston, 1994).

Conservation Actions:

The cacomistle is listed in CITES Appendix III by Costa Rica, and it is also listed as an endangered species in Costa Rica. In Belize it is covered by the Wildlife Protection Act. It is not protected by law in Panama. Elsewhere the situation is unknown. Cacomistles are known to occur in the proposed Volcano Baro National Park in Panama, in the Monte Cristo National Park in El Salvador and in the Cockscomb Basin Reserve in Belize and may be living in a number of protected areas where there is suitable habitat (Glatston, 1994).

Citation:	Samudio, R., Pino, J.L. & Helgen, K. 2008. Bassariscus sumichrasti. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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