Sylvilagus mansuetus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	LAGOMORPHA	LEPORIDAE

Scientific Name:

Sylvilagus mansuetus

Species Authority:

Nelson, 1907

Common Name/s:

English	–	San Jose Brush Rabbit
Spanish	–	Conejo Matorralero De La Isla San Jose

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Mexican Association for Conservation and Study of Lagomorphs (AMCELA), Romero Malpica, F.J. & Rangel Cordero, H.

Evaluator/s:

Smith, A.T. & Boyer, A.F. (Lagomorph Red List Authority)

Justification:
Sylvilagus mansuetus occurs on a single island with an area of approximately 170 km². Little is known about population abundance or if it is experiencing a decline (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). It is possible that threats, such as introduced cats and rats, may be negatively impacting the species, but more research is needed (Chapman and Ceballos 1990).

S. mansuetus is listed as Near Threatened, nearly qualifying for Endangered status based on criteria B1a+2a, due to its restricted extent of occurrence and area of occupancy. However, there are no data regarding the degree of habitat loss necessary for listing the species under a required second subcategory. It is likely that when data do become available it will be qualified for listing under B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).

History:

1996	–	Lower Risk/near threatened (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
1994	–	Indeterminate (Groombridge 1994)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Sylvilagus mansuetus is endemic to Mexico, occurring only on San Jose Island in the Gulf of California, Baja California Sur (Thomas and Best 1994), which has an area of approximately 170 km².
Countries:	Native: Mexico (Baja California Sur)
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Very little is known about the population and abundance of Sylvilagus mansuetus (Chapman and Ceballos 1990).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The habitat of San Jose Island where Sylvilagus mansuetus occurs is arid with vegetation similar to mainland Baja California Sur (Thomas and Best 1994), containing cacti and succulents (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). Total length is 33.9 cm (Cervantes et al. 2005).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Disturbance by humans, the loss/disturbance of habitat by invasive alien species, and competition with domesticated fauna pose a threat. However, a survey is necessary to establish the condition of threats to Sylvilagus mansuetus (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). It is suspected that the introduction of cats and rats to San Jose Island may present a threat (Thomas and Best 1994).

Major Threat(s):

Disturbance by humans, the loss/disturbance of habitat by invasive alien species, and competition with domesticated fauna pose a threat. However, a survey is necessary to establish the condition of threats to Sylvilagus mansuetus (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). It is suspected that the introduction of cats and rats to San Jose Island may present a threat (Thomas and Best 1994).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Sylvilagus mansuetus is listed as critically endangered in the Mexican official Norm NOM-059-ECOL-2001. A conservation program specific to S. mansuetus should be implemented, due to its restricted range and conservation status. The island of San Jose is considered an ecological reserve by the Mexican government. A status survey is necessary to determine the population status, threats, and ecological requirements of S. mansuetus (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). If it is found that the introduction of rats and cats is negatively impacting the species, eradication efforts may need to be enacted.

Conservation Actions:

Sylvilagus mansuetus is listed as critically endangered in the Mexican official Norm NOM-059-ECOL-2001. A conservation program specific to S. mansuetus should be implemented, due to its restricted range and conservation status. The island of San Jose is considered an ecological reserve by the Mexican government.

A status survey is necessary to determine the population status, threats, and ecological requirements of S. mansuetus (Chapman and Ceballos 1990). If it is found that the introduction of rats and cats is negatively impacting the species, eradication efforts may need to be enacted.

Citation:	Mexican Association for Conservation and Study of Lagomorphs (AMCELA), Romero Malpica, F.J. & Rangel Cordero, H. 2008. Sylvilagus mansuetus. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 02 December 2008.
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