Dinomys branickii

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	DINOMYIDAE

Scientific Name:

Dinomys branickii

Species Authority:

Peters, 1873

Common Name/s:

English

–

Pacarana

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2cd ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Tirira, D., Vargas, J. & Dunnum, J.

Reviewer/s:

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

Contributor/s:

Justification:
This species is listed as Vulnerable because of a population decline, estimated to be more than 30% over the last 10 years, inferred from over-exploitation, shrinkage in distribution, and habitat destruction and degradation.

History:

1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Endangered (IUCN 1990)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia (Woods and Kilpatrick, 2005). It is found in Colombia from 300 to 3,400 m (Alberico et al., 2000). In the Bolivian yungas it is known from 1,000 to 1,600 m; there are few records in Bolivia (Anderson, 1997; J. Vargas pers. comm.).
Countries:	Native: Bolivia, Plurinational States of; Brazil; Colombia; Ecuador; Peru; Venezuela
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It appears to be rare and its distribution is patchy (Lord, 1999). In Bolivia, the species appears to be rare in general; however, it appears to be common in Cotapata National Park (J. Vargas pers. comm.).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is thought to inhabit high selva and upper parts of the lower selva (Grimwood, 1969). Little is known about the wild habits of this species, but in captivity it is tame. Claws indicate it to be a digger, appears to be easy to capture for both predator and man. It is active by night, resting in caves or dens at the base of trees. This rodent has some climbing ability, especially prominent in young animals. It feeds on fruits, leaves, and plant shoots. It produces a wide variety of vocalizations, and males seeking mates produce a complicated, intricate series of calls. Gestation lies between 222 and 280 days; generally only two young are born (Eisenberg, 1974; Eisenberg and Redford, 1999; Lord, 1999). Its behavior in captivity has been summarized by Meritt (1984).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is thought to inhabit high selva and upper parts of the lower selva (Grimwood, 1969). Little is known about the wild habits of this species, but in captivity it is tame. Claws indicate it to be a digger, appears to be easy to capture for both predator and man. It is active by night, resting in caves or dens at the base of trees. This rodent has some climbing ability, especially prominent in young animals. It feeds on fruits, leaves, and plant shoots. It produces a wide variety of vocalizations, and males seeking mates produce a complicated, intricate series of calls. Gestation lies between 222 and 280 days; generally only two young are born (Eisenberg, 1974; Eisenberg and Redford, 1999; Lord, 1999). Its behavior in captivity has been summarized by Meritt (1984).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The major threats are deforestation and habitat loss. As an agricultural pest this species is hunted and its meat is eaten, especially in cultivated areas.

Major Threat(s):

The major threats are deforestation and habitat loss. As an agricultural pest this species is hunted and its meat is eaten, especially in cultivated areas.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are records in several protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

There are records in several protected areas.

Citation:	Tirira, D., Vargas, J. & Dunnum, J. 2008. Dinomys branickii. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 May 2013.
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