Conservation status, protected area coverage of Ctenomys (Rodentia, Ctenomyidae) species and molecular identification of a population in a national park

Abstract

Tuco-tucos, South American rodents of the genus Ctenomys, is one of the most speciose genera among mammals. In this work, we performed a study of all extant Ctenomys species considering their conservation status and potential presence in Protected Areas, showing that 34 out of 67 (50.75%) species of tuco-tucos have significant overlapping distributions with such areas. We point out at-risk species that have no overlap with Protected Areas which deserve close surveillance and discuss the need for managing non-protected areas. We also assessed the identification at the species level of a previously unknown population of Ctenomys rionegrensis, an endangered species inhabiting sandy elevations in the Pre-Delta National Park, in Entre Rios province, Argentina.