Santamartamys rufodorsalis
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
MAMMALIA |
RODENTIA |
ECHIMYIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Santamartamys rufodorsalis |
| Species Authority: |
(J.A. Allen, 1899) |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
Red Crested Tree Rat |
|
| Synonym/s: |
Diplomys rufodorsalis J.A. Allen, 1899
|
| Taxonomic Notes: |
This species has been assigned to a new monotypic genus Santamartamys (Emmons 2005). |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Critically Endangered
B1ab(i,ii,iii)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2011 |
| Assessor/s: |
Patterson, B. & Lacher, T. |
| Reviewer/s: |
Young, R., Wilson, D.E. & Amori, G. |
Justification:
Based upon the recent information provided by Dr. Paul Salaman, this species would qualify as Critically Endangered based upon the known extent of occurrence (EOO), severe fragmentation of the population, the decline in EOO, area of occupancy (AOO), and quality of habitat. There is still some question regarding the size of the AOO, however, the data on EOO seems quite strong. The one concern remaining with the assessment is the fact that there are no data on the ability of this species to survive in degraded or disturbed forest. If so, then the criterion for severely fragmented would not be met and the category perhaps should remain Data Deficient.
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| History: |
|
Geographic Range
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Population
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| Population: |
The population status of this species is unknown. Current reports by Pro Aves (Paul Salaman) present a scenario of land degradation and resultant fragmentation. Other tree rats (Genus Diplomys) nest in tree cavities and are arboreal, and do not likely disperse long distances. Fragmentation and degradation of the canopy would likely impact dispersal ability of Santamartamys as well.
|
| Population Trend: |
Unknown
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
The habitat preferences and ecological requirements of this species are unknown at present. It is known only from upper tropical to lower montane humid forest on the NW slope of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
The threats to this species, if any, are unknown (Emmons and Feer 1997). Paul Salaman (pers. comm.) reports that much of the forest in the potential range has been cleared or degraded. He also states that land process in the region have risen due to demand for weekend and holiday homes and that coffee cultivation is also expanding. Climate impacts could be a long-range threat.
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Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
This species is known to occur in the 1,900 acre (769 ha) El Dorado Nature Reserve, where one individual was observed in 2011. Nothing is known about current occurrence outside this observation.
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Bibliography
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Emmons, L. H. 2005. A revision of the arboreal Echimyidae (Rodentia: Echimyidae, Echimyinae); with descriptions of two new genera. In: E. A. Lacey and P. Myers (eds), Mammalian Diversification: From Chromosomes to Phylogeography (A Celebration of the Career of James L. Patton), pp. 247-309. University of California Press, Berkley:, USA.
Emmons, L. H. and Feer, F. 1997. Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide, Second edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, USA.
IUCN. 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2011.2). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 10 November 2011).
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