VU

Pittier's Crab-eating Rat

Ichthyomys pittieri

Unknown

Overview

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

Pittier's Crab-eating Rat faces severe pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its limited range in Costa Rica's montane forests. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented critical riparian habitats where this semi-aquatic species depends on clean streams for foraging. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and stream flow regimes essential for the aquatic invertebrates that form the species' primary food source.

Threat summary

Habitat

This semi-aquatic rodent inhabits montane cloud forests and riparian zones along fast-flowing streams in Costa Rica's Cordillera de Talamanca. It requires pristine forest cover adjacent to rocky streams with abundant aquatic invertebrates, typically at elevations between 1,500-2,500 meters.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Pittier's Crab-eating Rat classified as Vulnerable?
Pittier's Crab-eating Rat is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Pittier's Crab-eating Rat faces severe pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its limited range in Costa Rica's montane forests. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented critical riparian habitats where this semi-aquatic species depends on clean streams for foraging. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and stream flow regimes essential for the aquatic invertebrates that form the species' primary food source.
Where does Pittier's Crab-eating Rat live?
Pittier's Crab-eating 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 Pittier's Crab-eating Rat?
The main threats to Pittier's Crab-eating 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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