Assessment of the rarity and conservation status of the Colombian endemic brown hairy dwarf porcupine Coendou vestitus

Maria M Torres-Martínez ,Fernando C Passos,Héctor E Ramírez-Chaves,Elkin A Noguera‐Urbano

doi:10.1017/s0030605319001029

Abstract

AbstractThe brown hairy dwarf porcupine Coendou vestitus is a poorly studied Andean species endemic to Colombia. Its current Red List category is contradictory: globally it is categorized as Data Deficient but in Colombia it is categorized as Vulnerable. This contradiction has limited the implementation of conservation programmes. We evaluate the level of rarity of the species and provide consolidated information for a new assessment of its Red List status. We reviewed literature, photographs, and voucher specimens in natural history collections. Using the confirmed records, we estimated the extent of occurrence (EOO) based on the minimum convex polygon and the area of occupancy (AOO) summing the area of grid squares occupied by the species. We found that C. vestitus is very rare, with a small range, low estimated population density, occurrence in only one habitat type and small body size. The species has an EOO of 3,323 km2 and an AOO of 24 km2, based on six confirmed localities, all on the western slopes of the Eastern Cordillera, in the central Andean region of Colombia. Based on the species' rarity, restricted distribution, and threats to its natural habitat, we recommend its categorization as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. This will help delineate research and conservation efforts for this porcupine, which has a highly restricted range and inhabits the threatened Andean forest.

Highlights

The brown hairy dwarf porcupine Coendou vestitus is one of the rarest of the seven species of porcupines that occur in Colombia (Ramírez-Chaves et al, )
Information on the ecology, genetics, natural history and conservation status of the species is scarce, and in the case of the latter, contradictory. This porcupine is categorized as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List (Weksler et al, ), with the assessment considering the presence of the species from only two localities, in the same assessment three localities were mentioned
We examined whether the extent of occurrence (EOO) or area of occupancy (AOO) of C. vestitus overlaps with protected areas, by using the protected areas layer for Colombia (October ; SINAP, ), and evaluated the per cent of forest area that remained unchanged during – within the polygon of the species range (IDEAM, )

Summary

Introduction

The brown hairy dwarf porcupine Coendou vestitus is one of the rarest of the seven species of porcupines (genus Coendou) that occur in Colombia (Ramírez-Chaves et al, ). Since its description more than a century ago (Thomas, ), it has been recorded from only six localities This species is considered endemic to both sides of the Eastern Cordillera in the Colombian Andes, which is a complex ecosystem with topographical and biological diversity and high levels of endemism (Olson & Dinerstein, ; Armenteras et al, ; Sánchez-Cuervo et al, ). Information on the ecology, genetics, natural history and conservation status of the species is scarce, and in the case of the latter, contradictory This porcupine is categorized as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List (Weksler et al, ), with the assessment considering the presence of the species from only two localities, in the same assessment three localities were mentioned. Based on available literature, specimens in natural history museums and collections, and data from recent records, we evaluate the level of rarity of the species and reassess its conservation status

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Conclusion