Conservation of endemic mammals of Mexico: The perote ground squirrel (Spermophilus perotensis)

Abstract

About 25% of all land mammals from Mexico face conservation problems. Endemic species, particularly those with restricted distributions, contribute a disproportionately large number of species to the total number of endangered species. The Perote ground squirrel (Spermophilus perotensis), a species endemic to Mexico, has a distribution limited to the states of Puebla and Veracruz. Its geographic range is restricted to a 100-km strip covering 2,457 km2 in the El Oriental Basin, where they occur in only 16 localities on arid plains and valleys at elevations of 2,200-2,700 m above sea level. Habitat destruction and fragmentation have been severe in the El Oriental Basin, leading to small isolated populations with high probabilities of extinction, and threatening the long-term survival of the species. Mean distance between localities was 15.8 km, which clearly indicates the severity of fragmentation. The Perote ground squirrel is a good example of the conservation problems faced by many Mexican endemics. Conservation of these species should be a priority for Mexico.