CR

Nelson's Woodrat

Neotoma nelsoni

Declining

Overview

Nelson's woodrat is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is known only from the eastern slopes of the volcanoes Orizaba and Cofre de Perote. Due to the small geographic range, isolation, and low population, the Nelson's woodrat has a higher risk for extinction. The distribution and population sizes are small. The population exists in geographic isolation, which prevents gene flow

Nelson's woodrat faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in western Mexico. The species is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, as rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns threaten the oak-pine woodland ecosystems it depends upon. Introduced predators and competitors have further reduced population viability in remaining habitat fragments.

Threat summary

Habitat

Nelson's woodrat inhabits oak-pine woodlands and mixed coniferous forests in mountainous regions of western Mexico, typically at elevations between 1,500-2,500 meters. The species requires dense understory vegetation and rocky outcrops for nesting sites and protection from predators.

Forest· majorForest - Temperate· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· majorDesert· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Nelson's Woodrat classified as Critically Endangered?
Nelson's Woodrat 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. Nelson's woodrat faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in western Mexico. The species is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, as rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns threaten the oak-pine woodland ecosystems it depends upon. Introduced predators and competitors have further reduced population viability in remaining habitat fragments.
Where does Nelson's Woodrat live?
Nelson's Woodrat occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Nelson's Woodrat?
The main threats to Nelson's Woodrat are 2.1, 8.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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