EN

Highland Small Rice Rat

Microryzomys altissimus

Unknown

Overview

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

The Páramo Colilargo faces severe habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in the high-altitude páramo ecosystems of the northern Andes. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures force this cold-adapted species to retreat to increasingly limited mountaintop refugia. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment its already restricted range across Colombia and Venezuela.

Threat summary

Habitat

This small rodent inhabits high-altitude páramo grasslands and shrublands between 3,000-4,200 meters elevation in the northern Andes. It occupies dense grass tussocks and low shrub vegetation in these cold, wet montane ecosystems.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Highland Small Rice Rat classified as Endangered?
Highland Small Rice Rat is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Páramo Colilargo faces severe habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in the high-altitude páramo ecosystems of the northern Andes. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures force this cold-adapted species to retreat to increasingly limited mountaintop refugia. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment its already restricted range across Colombia and Venezuela.
Where does Highland Small Rice Rat live?
Highland Small Rice Rat 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 Highland Small Rice Rat?
The main threats to Highland Small Rice 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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