Dipodomys insularis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	HETEROMYIDAE

Scientific Name:

Dipodomys insularis

Species Authority

Merriam, 1907

Common Name/s:

English

–

San Jose Island Kangaroo Rat

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B1ab(iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

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

Evaluator/s:

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

Justification:
Listed as Critically Endangered because its maximum estimated extent of occurrence is less than 100 km², all individuals are in a single location, and there is continuing decline in the number of mature individuals and in the extent and quality of its habitat.

History:

1996

–

Critically Endangered (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs only on San Jose Island off the southeastern coast of Baja California, Mexico.
Countries:	Native: Mexico
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	There are few specimens known of the species. There are probably fewer than 100 adults remaining (Alvarez-Castaneda pers. comm.).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	San Jose Island is covered with hills and low mountains of less than 600 m, with vegetation similar to that of mainland Baja California (Best and Thomas 1991). This species has been collected in open habitat at 100 m from sandy beach, in an area with 65% vegetative cover and 35% desert pavement (Best and Thomas 1991). The current estimated area of occupancy is less than 30 km² and the maximum extent of occurrence is less than 70 km² (Alvarez-Castaneda pers. comm.).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

San Jose Island is covered with hills and low mountains of less than 600 m, with vegetation similar to that of mainland Baja California (Best and Thomas 1991). This species has been collected in open habitat at 100 m from sandy beach, in an area with 65% vegetative cover and 35% desert pavement (Best and Thomas 1991).

The current estimated area of occupancy is less than 30 km² and the maximum extent of occurrence is less than 70 km² (Alvarez-Castaneda pers. comm.).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The major threats to this species are predation from introduced feral cats and destruction of habitat by introduced feral goats. Threats also include ongoing, human-induced habitat loss and habitat degradation, and intrinsic factors related to a restricted range.

Major Threat(s):

The major threats to this species are predation from introduced feral cats and destruction of habitat by introduced feral goats. Threats also include ongoing, human-induced habitat loss and habitat degradation, and intrinsic factors related to a restricted range.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is found in a protected area and is protected under Mexican law, with the status of in danger of extinction, "en peligro de extinción".

Conservation Actions:

This species is found in a protected area and is protected under Mexican law, with the status of in danger of extinction, "en peligro de extinción".

Citation:	Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T., Castro-Arellano, I., Lacher, T., Vázquez, E. & Arroyo-Cabrales, J. 2008. Dipodomys insularis. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 November 2008.
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