Acomys nesiotes

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	MURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Acomys nesiotes

Species Authority:

Bate, 1903

Common Name/s:

English

–

Cyprus Spiny Mouse

Taxonomic Notes:

A poorly defined species. Likely to be part of Acomys cahirinus but currently recognized as valid (see Barome et al. 2001, and Musser and Carleton 2005 for discussion).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Data Deficient ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

Kryštufek, B. & Amori, G.

Reviewer/s:

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

Justification:
This species is Data Deficient given the uncertainty concerning the taxonomic status of the species, and the fact that the species was probably introduced by humans to Cyprus. If it was assessed as a valid species, it would likely qualify as threatened under criterion B.

History:

2000	–	Data Deficient
1996	–	Lower Risk/near threatened (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Acomys nesiotes is endemic to Cyprus, where available evidence suggests that it was possibly introduced by humans, and therefore may represent a non-native population of Acomys cahirinus.
Countries:	Present - origin uncertain: Cyprus
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	There were no records of this species between 1980 and 2007. In 2007, four individuals were captured by M. Sozen and colleagues around Lefkoşa (Nicosia) area at an altitude of about 600 meters asl in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, confirming that this species persists (M. Sozen pers. comm. 2007). The species is expected to have two disjunct populations in the rocky areas of the island: the Troodos massiv in the South and the Kyrenia hills in the North, which are separated by the non-rocky Mesaoria lowlands.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Population:

There were no records of this species between 1980 and 2007. In 2007, four individuals were captured by M. Sozen and colleagues around Lefkoşa (Nicosia) area at an altitude of about 600 meters asl in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, confirming that this species persists (M. Sozen pers. comm. 2007).

The species is expected to have two disjunct populations in the rocky areas of the island: the Troodos massiv in the South and the Kyrenia hills in the North, which are separated by the non-rocky Mesaoria lowlands.

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is found in rocky areas.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Attempts were made in the 1980s and 1990s to trap this species at sites where it was recorded in the 1970s; these were always unsuccessful, and instead of spiny mice, black rats Rattus rattus were found at the sites (P. Boye pers. comm. 2007). Habitat at some of these site has been destroyed as a result of road and building construction (P. Boye pers. comm. 2007). This suggests that the Cyprus Spiny Mouse may have suffered significant declines as a result of competition with invasive black rats and habitat loss due to development.

Major Threat(s):

Attempts were made in the 1980s and 1990s to trap this species at sites where it was recorded in the 1970s; these were always unsuccessful, and instead of spiny mice, black rats Rattus rattus were found at the sites (P. Boye pers. comm. 2007). Habitat at some of these site has been destroyed as a result of road and building construction (P. Boye pers. comm. 2007). This suggests that the Cyprus Spiny Mouse may have suffered significant declines as a result of competition with invasive black rats and habitat loss due to development.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	No specific measures are in place. It is not known if the species occurs in any protected areas. Taxonomic research is required to clarify whether or not this is a valid species. Surveys are needed to determine population size, distribution and trends.

Conservation Actions:

No specific measures are in place. It is not known if the species occurs in any protected areas. Taxonomic research is required to clarify whether or not this is a valid species. Surveys are needed to determine population size, distribution and trends.

Citation:	Kryštufek, B. & Amori, G. 2008. Acomys nesiotes. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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