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Key Regions

Global patterns of extinction risk and conservation needs for Rodentia and Eulipotyphla

A recent paper, published in the journal Diversity and Distributions, explored the global patterns in spatial aggregations of species richness, vulnerability and data deficiency for Rodentia and Eulipotyphla, and assessed the adequacy of existing protected area (PA) network for these areas, to provide a focus for local conservation initiatives.

Despite some potential limitations (the findings are dependent upon the quality of available IUCN Red List data), this new assessment of global patterns of small mammal diversity constitutes a highly important planning tool for setting regional priorities and directing maximally effective interventions in the face of limited conservation resources, and for focusing capacity-building activities to support future research and planning. This improved global understanding of small mammal diversity and conservation status will serve to guide effective management and help maintain this hugely important group of mammals into the future.

 

Rodentia

Ten priority regions were identified for globally threatened rodents

  1. Mexico
  2. Ecuador
  3. Brazil
  4. Cameroon Highlands
  5. Albertine Rift Montane Forests
  6. South-western Ghats in India
  7. Sri Lanka
  8. Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra & Java
  9. Borneo & Sulawesi
  10. Northern Australia

Together, these ten regions contain 34% of all globally threatened rodent species. Six of these priority regions contain higher numbers of globally threatened rodent species than would be expected based on their overall species richness.

 

Eulipotyphla

Six hotspots were identified for globally threatened eulipotyphlans

  1. Cameroon
  2. Albertine Rift
  3. Tanzania
  4. Ethiopia
  5. South-western Ghats in India
  6. Sri Lanka

These six priority regions contain 39.5% of all globally threatened eulipotyphlan species and 17.6% of all species. Three of these priority regions (Sri Lanka,
Western Ghats and Cameroonian Highlands) contain higher numbers of globally threatened eulipotyphlan species than would be expected based on their overall species richness. These three regions alone contain 21.1% of globally threatened eulipotyphlan species.

Ecuador

Tanzania

Sumatra

Sulawesi

Sri Lanka

South Western Ghats

Peninsular Malaysia

Borneo

Mexico

Albertine rift

Cameroon

Ethiopia