Distributional patterns and conservation of the genus Habromys (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in Mesoamerica

Novel genomic resources contribute to the systematics of threatened arboreal deer mice of the genus Habromys Hooper & Musser, 1964 (Cricetidae, Neotominae) within a neotomine–peromyscine phylogeny

“…All Habromys species are of conservation concern given the increasing annual deforestation rates for montane cloud forest ( Rogers et al 2007 ; Contreras-Medina et al 2022 ) as well as other characteristics described above. The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) established that populations of all Habromys are decreasing but only H. simulatus , H. ixtlani , H. schmidlyi , H. chinanteco , and H. lepturus are considered Critically Endangered ( Álvarez-Castañeda et al 2018a , 2018b , 2018c , 2018d ; Vázquez 2018 ), while H. delicatulus is considered Endangered ( Vázquez 2017 ) and H. lophurus Near-Threatened ( Emmons and Vázquez 2019 ).…”

“…Efforts to determine the correct status of these species have been stifled because of the very limited number of studies that have focused on this genus. Furthermore, a recent study looking at distributional patterns and conservation of the genus Habromys ( Contreras-Medina et al 2022 ) proposed that all Habromys species except H. lophurus must be included in the NOM-059 because their geographical distribution covers less than 5% of the Mexican territory based on the known distribution and their species-distribution models. However, they did not consider the particular case of H. lophurus and H. simulatus , where it has been proposed that they consist of two geographically isolated species ( León-Paniagua et al 2007 ).…”

“…The montane cloud forest, a relict ecosystem, is one of the most highly endangered and fragmented habitats mainly because of land conversion for grazing and agriculture ( Toledo-Aceves et al 2011 ). The association between species of the genus Habromys and this ecosystem makes their geographical distribution highly discontinuous and susceptible to climate change and anthropogenic activities ( Carleton et al 2002 ; Contreras-Medina et al 2022 ). These species are elusive and rare, with small population sizes, and are poorly represented in scientific collections ( Romo-Vázquez et al 2005 ; León-Paniagua et al 2007 ; Castañeda-Rico et al 2011 ).…”

“…The characteristics mentioned above increase the risk of extinction for all species within this genus. Members of the genus Habromys are considered characteristic elements of the Neotropical montane cloud forest and contribute to the recognition of Mesoamerica as a biodiversity hotspot ( Contreras-Medina et al 2022 ). Despite the biological importance of this genus, little is known about its evolutionary history.…”

“…The crested-tailed deer mouse, Habromys lophurus , is distributed in Nuclear Central America, from Chiapas, Mexico to Guatemala and El Salvador ( León-Paniagua et al 2007 ; Rogers et al 2007 ). It is possible that this species also occurs in small patches in western Honduras ( Carleton et al 2002 ; Contreras-Medina et al 2022 ) but, to date, no specimens have been identified or captured in that region. Robertson and Musser (1976) and Carleton et al (2002) found that the body size in populations from Chiapas is smaller than those in Guatemala and El Salvador, but they considered that this distinction did not warrant taxonomic recognition.…”