Sigmodontomys aphrastus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CRICETIDAE

Scientific Name:

Sigmodontomys aphrastus

Species Authority:

Harris, 1932

Common Name/s:

English

–

Harris's Rice Water Rat, Long-tailed Sigmodontomys

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Data Deficient ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Samudio, R., Pino, J., Timm, R. & Woodman, N.

Reviewer/s:

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

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Data Deficient in view of the absence of information on its extent of occurrence, threats, status, and ecological requirements. Perhaps with new survey methods it will be found at more localities.

History:

1996

–

Critically Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known from widely disjunct locations in Costa Rica (San Joaquín de Dota and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve), Panama (Chiriquí, 24 km north-northwest of San Félix), and the western slope of Ecuador (Mt. Pichincha and Mindo) (McCain et al. 2007). The species has been recorded from 1,275 m asl to 2,000 m asl, although there is some uncertainty of this maximum elevation (possibly to 2,600 m) (see McCain et al. 2007).
Countries:	Native: Costa Rica; Ecuador; Panama
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This rat is rare; it is known from just seven specimens (R. Timm and F. Reid pers. comm.).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is poorly known. It is found in high elevation oak and cloud forest in Costa Rica. In Panama, it was found in disturbed, brushy, oak forest (Reid 1997).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The local threat to the species in Panama is copper mining, and the known locality is now essentially gone (although others may exist in Panama) – also this elevation on the Pacific slope of Panama has largely been eliminated by development. There are no known major threats to the species in Costa Rica or Ecuador, although there is considerable deforestation occurring in and around Mindo, Ecuador.

Major Threat(s):

The local threat to the species in Panama is copper mining, and the known locality is now essentially gone (although others may exist in Panama) – also this elevation on the Pacific slope of Panama has largely been eliminated by development. There are no known major threats to the species in Costa Rica or Ecuador, although there is considerable deforestation occurring in and around Mindo, Ecuador.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Occurs in protected areas in Costa Rica and Ecuador. Research is needed on all aspects of biology of this species.

Conservation Actions:

Occurs in protected areas in Costa Rica and Ecuador. Research is needed on all aspects of biology of this species.

Bibliography [top]

	McCain, C. M., Timm, R. M. and Weksler, M. 2007. Redescription of the enigmatic long-tailed rat Sigmodontomys aphrastus (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) with comments on taxonomy and natural history. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 120: 117-136. Musser, G. G. and Carleton, M. D. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. In: D. E. Wilson and D. A. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World: a geographic and taxonomic reference, pp. 894-1531. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA. Reid, F. 1997. A field guide to the mammals of Central America and southeast Mexico. Oxford University Press, New York, USA. Voss, R. S. 1988. Systematics and ecology of Ichthyomyine rodents (Muroidea): Patterns of morphological evolution in a small adaptive radiation. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 188: 259-493.

McCain, C. M., Timm, R. M. and Weksler, M. 2007. Redescription of the enigmatic long-tailed rat Sigmodontomys aphrastus (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) with comments on taxonomy and natural history. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 120: 117-136.

Musser, G. G. and Carleton, M. D. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. In: D. E. Wilson and D. A. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World: a geographic and taxonomic reference, pp. 894-1531. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA.

Reid, F. 1997. A field guide to the mammals of Central America and southeast Mexico. Oxford University Press, New York, USA.

Voss, R. S. 1988. Systematics and ecology of Ichthyomyine rodents (Muroidea): Patterns of morphological evolution in a small adaptive radiation. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 188: 259-493.

Citation:	Samudio, R., Pino, J., Timm, R. & Woodman, N. 2008. Sigmodontomys aphrastus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2013.
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