The vulnerable colombian weasel Mustela felipei (Carnivora): new record from Colombia and a review of its distribution in protected areas

Abstract

The Colombian weasel Mustela felipei is considered the rarest Neotropical carnivore only known from four localities in Colombia and one in Ecuador. It is considered Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List along its distributional range. We present an unexpected photographic record of a living specimen from Colombia that shed lights on its distribution on the Western Cordillera of Colombia, where it was previously known from single a record obtained on 1986. This is the first confirmed record of the Colombian weasel during the 21 st century. Finally, we discuss the species' occurrence in protected areas of Colombia, to provide tools for the conservation of this rare species.La comadreja colombiana Mustela felipei es considerada el carnívoro neotropical más raro, solo conocida de cuatro localidades en Colombia y una en Ecuador. Se considera Vulnerable en la Lista Roja de la UICN a lo largo de su rango de distribución. Presentamos un registro fotográfico inesperado de un espécimen vivo de Colombia que arrojó luces sobre su distribución en la cordillera Occidental de Colombia, donde anteriormente se conocía de un solo registro obtenido en 1986. Este es el primer registro confirmado de la comadreja colombiana durante el siglo 21. Finalmente, discutimos la ocurrencia de la especie en áreas protegidas de Colombia, para proporcionar herramientas para la conservación de esta especie rara.

Notes on the natural history of the Stump-tailed Porcupine, Coendou rufescens (Rodentia, Erethizontidae), in Colombia

“…Finally, the use of citizen science has provided valuable information on the study of rare mammal species in Colombia (Gerstner et al 2018;de Roux et al 2019); however, this is one of the first attempts to document information on a relatively common species that lacks information about its natural history. Contributions by citizens to science, although not new, have increased markedly in our times (Bonney et al 2014).…”

First records of Peruvian Toro, Toromys rhipidurus Thomas, 1928 (Rodentia, Echimyidae), in Colombia

“…Citizen science platforms, like iNaturalist, have been an important tool to record species. For example, the first live record of the Colombian Weasel, Mustela felipei Izor & de la Torre, 1978, which was recorded in a rural house's bathroom, allowed for an updated hypothesis of this species' distribution and suggested its potential presence in protected areas (De Roux et al 2019). Despite the importance of the citizen science apps to record the distribution and natural history of the species, it is still necessary and important to continue the collection of voucher specimens.…”

A ghost in the mist: extension of the known range of Colombian Weasel, Neogale felipei (Izor & de la Torre, 1978) (Carnivora, Mustelidae), in the Cordillera Occidental

“…In contrast, other species are rarer and more restricted to particular habitat types. For example, Amazonian Weasel, Neogale africana (Desmarest, 1818), is known only from Amazonian rainforest, and Colombian Weasel, Neogale felipei (Izor & de la Torre, 1978), is known only from the cloud forests of the northern Andes (Ramírez-Chaves and Patterson 2014;Ramírez-Chaves et al 2014;de Roux et al 2019). Indeed, N. felipei is the rarest carnivore in South America, with only seven validated records over an elevational range of 1525-2700 m (Ramírez-Chaves and Mantilla-Meluk 2009; de Roux et al 2019).…”

“…For example, Amazonian Weasel, Neogale africana (Desmarest, 1818), is known only from Amazonian rainforest, and Colombian Weasel, Neogale felipei (Izor & de la Torre, 1978), is known only from the cloud forests of the northern Andes (Ramírez-Chaves and Patterson 2014;Ramírez-Chaves et al 2014;de Roux et al 2019). Indeed, N. felipei is the rarest carnivore in South America, with only seven validated records over an elevational range of 1525-2700 m (Ramírez-Chaves and Mantilla-Meluk 2009; de Roux et al 2019). Globally, N. felipei is categorized as Vulnerable (González-Maya et al 2016), although in Colombia, the species is listed as Endangered due to the restriction of its geographic range by the fragmentation of highland forests, which face pervasive transformation by agricultural activities (Mesa-González 2006).…”