Microtus quasiater

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CRICETIDAE

Scientific Name:

Microtus quasiater

Species Authority

(Coues, 1874)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Jalapan Pine Vole

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T., Castro-Arellano, I., Lacher, T. & Vázquez, E.

Evaluator/s:

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

Justification:
Listed as Near Threatened because this species is likely in significant decline (but probably at a rate of less than 30% over ten years) because of increasing agricultural activities through most of its range and urbanization that has caused the local extinction of at least one population, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable under criterion A2c.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs on eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental (500 to 2,150 m), from south-east San Luis Potosi to north Oaxaca, México (Musser and Carleton 2005).
Countries:	Native: Mexico
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	This species is relatively common in suitable habitat. However, a population in Xalapa has become extinct due to urbanization within this area (Ceballos and Olivia 2005).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species can be found in cloud forest, grassland, and agricultural lands. Typical habitat has been described as marshy meadows and grassy swales (Ramirez-Pulido et al. 1991). These voles live in habitats similar to their northern congeners but have a much reduced litter size. Jalapan pine voles feed mainly on roots and the bases of stems of annual plants and possibly some grasses (Hall and Dalquest 1963).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species can be found in cloud forest, grassland, and agricultural lands. Typical habitat has been described as marshy meadows and grassy swales (Ramirez-Pulido et al. 1991).

These voles live in habitats similar to their northern congeners but have a much reduced litter size. Jalapan pine voles feed mainly on roots and the bases of stems of annual plants and possibly some grasses (Hall and Dalquest 1963).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Major threats to this species are habitat loss from urbanization and agriculture.

Major Threat(s):

Major threats to this species are habitat loss from urbanization and agriculture.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species range falls partially into several protected areas within its distribution. It is considered vulnerable under Mexican Law (NOM-059-ECOL-2001).

Conservation Actions:

This species range falls partially into several protected areas within its distribution. It is considered vulnerable under Mexican Law (NOM-059-ECOL-2001).

Citation:	Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T., Castro-Arellano, I., Lacher, T. & Vázquez, E. 2008. Microtus quasiater. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 November 2008.
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