Nesoryzomys fernandinae
– Vulnerable
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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MAMMALIA
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Order:
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RODENTIA
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Family:
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MURIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Nesoryzomys fernandinae
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Species Authority:
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Hutterer & Hirsch, 1979
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Common Name/s:
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| English | — | FERNANDINA GALAPAGOS MOUSE, FERNANDINA RICE RAT |
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Taxonomic Notes:
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Will be transferred to family Cricetidae.
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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VU D2 ver 2.3 (1994)
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Year Assessed:
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2000
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Assessor/s:
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Dowler, R.C., Carroll, D.S. & Edwards, C.W.
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Evaluator/s:
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Hilton-Taylor, C. & Pollock, C.M. (Red List Programme Office)
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Justification:
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This species was listed as Extinct in 1996 because although it was only described in 1980 based on material in fresh owl pellets, no living specimens were collected until well into the 1990s. Surveys during 1995 and 1997 have shown the species to be present at all five sites sampled on the island of Fernandina, to which the species is confined. The highest trap success was along the volcano rim where the vegetation was most dense. Given that the size of the island is 642 km² and that the area of occupancy is likely to be considerably smaller, a listing of Vulnerable due to restricted distribution seems reasonable. In addition, although Fernandina is currently free of introduced rats, mice and feral cats, the accidental introduction of any of these would rapidly result in the demise of any indigenous rodents on the island as has happened elsewhere in the Galápagos. The volcano on Fernandina is one of the most active in the world, hence a catastrophic eruption is an ever-present threat.
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History:
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| 1996 | - | Extinct (Baillie and Groombridge 1996) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Nesoryzomys fernandinae is endemic to Fernandina island in the Galápagos archipelago.
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Countries:
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Native:
Ecuador (Galápagos)
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Population
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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The species has been found at various sites on the island, from the coastal area to the top of the volcano. However, the highest trap success occurred along the rim of the volcano where the vegetation was most dense.
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System:
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Terrestrial
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Threats
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Threats:
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The main current threat to the species is possible introduction of exotic species.
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