Chibchan Water Mouse
Chibchanomys trichotis
The Chibchan water mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in the Andean highlands of Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Cricetidae
Genus
Chibchanomys
Chibchan Water Mouse belongs to the family Cricetidae, order Rodentia, within the Mammalia class.
Species Profile
The Chibchan water mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in the Andean highlands of Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are tropical cloud forests and streams at elevations from 2,500 to 2,700 m. It feeds on snails and possibly small fish. It is the only currently described species in the genus Chibchanomys. It is a dull gray to black rat with a pale gray venter. The rat's tail is slightly longer than its body, measuring 115 to 133 millimetres compared to a head-body length of 113 to 125 mm.
The Chibchan Water Mouse faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and human settlement development throughout its limited range in Central and South America. Its specialized semi-aquatic lifestyle makes it particularly vulnerable to water pollution and alterations to riparian ecosystems, while climate change poses additional risks to the specific moisture and temperature conditions it requires.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits tropical montane cloud forests and humid premontane forests along streams, rivers, and other freshwater bodies, typically at elevations between 1,000-3,000 meters. This semi-aquatic rodent requires dense riparian vegetation and clean water sources with rocky substrates for foraging and shelter.
Threats
Agricultural expansion and land conversion
Habitat loss from deforestation
Climate change impacts on moisture regimes
Riparian ecosystem degradation
Water pollution and contamination
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Chibchan Water Mouse (Chibchanomys trichotis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/chibchan-water-mouse