Phyllomys mantiqueirensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Phyllomys mantiqueirensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most endangered biomes. Deforestation for agriculture, urban expansion, and infrastructure development has fragmented its montane forest habitat into isolated patches. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions, while climate change poses additional risks to its high-altitude forest ecosystem.
Habitat
This arboreal rodent inhabits montane Atlantic Forest remnants in the Mantiqueira Mountains of southeastern Brazil, typically found in primary and secondary forests at elevations above 1,000 meters. The species depends on dense forest canopy for shelter and foraging, particularly favoring areas with abundant epiphytes and diverse tree species.
