CR

Ethiopian Amphibious Rat

Nilopegamys plumbeus

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Nilopegamys plumbeus faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing that have dramatically reduced its montane grassland habitat. The species' extremely restricted range in the Ethiopian Highlands makes it particularly vulnerable to local habitat degradation and fragmentation. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures may force this high-altitude specialist into increasingly smaller refugia at higher elevations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits high-altitude montane grasslands and moorlands in the Ethiopian Highlands, typically found at elevations above 3,000 meters. It occupies areas with dense grass cover and scattered shrubs, preferring relatively undisturbed alpine and subalpine zones.

Wetlands (inland)· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protection

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Ethiopian Amphibious Rat classified as Critically Endangered?
Ethiopian Amphibious Rat is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Nilopegamys plumbeus faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing that have dramatically reduced its montane grassland habitat. The species' extremely restricted range in the Ethiopian Highlands makes it particularly vulnerable to local habitat degradation and fragmentation. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures may force this high-altitude specialist into increasingly smaller refugia at higher elevations.
Where does Ethiopian Amphibious Rat live?
Ethiopian Amphibious Rat occurs in Ethiopia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Ethiopian Amphibious Rat?
The main threats to Ethiopian Amphibious Rat are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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