Galea musteloides

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CAVIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Galea musteloides

Species Authority

Meyen, 1833

Common Name/s:

English

–

Common Yellow-toothed Cavy

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Dunnum, J., Pardina, U., Zeballos, H. & Ojeda, R.

Evaluator/s:

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

Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in southern Peru, throughout much of Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and northeastern Chile. This rodent is found through an enormous altitudinal range: in the Andes it occurs up to 5,000 m asl, whereas in Paraguay it is found in the low Chaco. In Argentina it is found as low as 20 m asl.
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia; Chile; Paraguay; Peru
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	It is a common species that is patchily distributed.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is primarily diurnal and terrestrial. It is found in a wide variety of drier habitats. In Salta Province, Argentina, it is most common in moist areas such as stream edges and croplands. In Peru this species may associate with Ctenomys, as Galea uses its burrows and appears to respond to the alarm calls of Ctenomys by seeking cover. The home range of a female was 4,275 square metres. Males mark females during courtship using chin gland secretions. In captivity the gestation period is 53 days, litters size is 2.7 (range 1 to 5), and neonates average 37 g. Lactation lasts about three weeks, and the age of first reproduction is one to three months. Females may have up to seven litters per year (Cabrera, 1953; Eisenberg and Redford, 1999; Kleiman, 1974; Mares et al., 1981; Rood, 1972).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is primarily diurnal and terrestrial. It is found in a wide variety of drier habitats. In Salta Province, Argentina, it is most common in moist areas such as stream edges and croplands. In Peru this species may associate with Ctenomys, as Galea uses its burrows and appears to respond to the alarm calls of Ctenomys by seeking cover. The home range of a female was 4,275 square metres. Males mark females during courtship using chin gland secretions. In captivity the gestation period is 53 days, litters size is 2.7 (range 1 to 5), and neonates average 37 g. Lactation lasts about three weeks, and the age of first reproduction is one to three months. Females may have up to seven litters per year (Cabrera, 1953; Eisenberg and Redford, 1999; Kleiman, 1974; Mares et al., 1981; Rood, 1972).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is present in several protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

It is present in several protected areas.

Citation:	Dunnum, J., Pardina, U., Zeballos, H. & Ojeda, R. 2008. Galea musteloides. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 November 2008.
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