Pappogeomys alcorni

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	GEOMYIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pappogeomys alcorni

Species Authority:

Russell, 1957

Common Name/s:

English

–

Alcorn's Pocket Gopher

Taxonomic Notes:

This species is probably conspecific with Pappogeomys bulleri (Patton 2005).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered A2bc ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Castro-Arellano, I., Vázquez, E., Cuarón, A. & Álvarez, S.

Reviewer/s:

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

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Critically Endangered because of a drastic population decline, estimated to be more than 80% over the last ten years, inferred from research that showed the species to be abundant in 1997-1998 and a more recent study that was unsuccessful in locating it. The decline has occurred, and is probably continuing, due to fragmentation of habitat, habitat loss from deforestation, and targeted killing by farmers.

History:

1996

–

Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known from south Jalisco (Mexico), in the Sierra del Tigre (Patton 2005).
Countries:	Native: Mexico (Jalisco)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species was recently searched for and was not found within its range (Demastes et al. 2002). A previous study in 1997-1998, focusing on burrowing habitats of this gopher, found the species to be abundant in its range (S. Alvarez pers. comm.).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is poorly known. It is found in pine-oak forests with iron-rich soils (Ceballos and Oliva 2005).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is persecuted by farmers as a pest. Its habitat is being deforested for timber and agriculture.

Major Threat(s):

It is persecuted by farmers as a pest. Its habitat is being deforested for timber and agriculture.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species needs protection from persecution by farmers and conservation of its remaining habitat. This species was recently searched for and was not found within its range (Demastes et al. 2002), despite a previous study finding the species to be abundant. More field work needs to be undertaken to better understand the status of this species.

Conservation Actions:

This species needs protection from persecution by farmers and conservation of its remaining habitat. This species was recently searched for and was not found within its range (Demastes et al. 2002), despite a previous study finding the species to be abundant. More field work needs to be undertaken to better understand the status of this species.

Citation:	Castro-Arellano, I., Vázquez, E., Cuarón, A. & Álvarez, S. 2008. Pappogeomys alcorni. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 May 2013.
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