Nelson's woodrat (''Neotoma nelsoni'') 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 Allopatric speciation () – also referred to as geographic speciation, vicariant speciation, or its earlier name the dumbbell model – is a mode of speciation that occurs when biological populations become geographically isolated from ...

, which prevents

gene flow In population genetics, gene flow (also known as gene migration or geneflow and allele flow) is the transfer of genetic material from one population to another. If the rate of gene flow is high enough, then two populations will have equivalent a ...

Location

The Nelson's woodrat can only be found on the eastern side of the volcanoes Pico de Orizaba and Cofre de Perote in Mexico. The estimated area for where this species is located is 1,350 km². This area includes steep slopes, coffee plantations, and a

cloud forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud c ...

. * Elevation range: 970–2,770 m * Climate: Humid and warm * Precipitation: Rain throughout all months of the year * Vegetation: Tropical rain forest

Characteristics

* Upper Body ** Cinnamon color ** White throat ** Grayish brown cheeks ** Short and silky hairs ** Nasal is wedge-shaped * Lower Body ** Tail is multicolored and scaly ** Toes are an off-white color

Average measurements

* Total Length: 300 mm * Tail vertebrae: 143 mm * Hindfoot: 30 mm * Ear: 22 mm

Threats

Currently the Nelson's woodrat is threatened by agriculture and

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

. In Mexico, a conversion to agriculture is taking place which is taking away the home of the Nelson's woodrat. Exotic and invasive species pose a threat to the Nelson's woodrat as potential

predators Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill the ...

References

* Neotoma Endemic mammals of Mexico Fauna of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt Rodents of North America Critically endangered biota of Mexico Nelson's woodrat Mammals described in 1905 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Neotoma-stub