Photo credit: Ruben Barquez
The Golden Vizcacha Rat, Pipanacoctomys aureus, is listed as ‘CRITICALLY ENDANGERED‘ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. It is known only from one small area at Salar de Pipanaco in the Catamarca province, Argentina, where it inhabits a narrow band of halophytic (salt-tolerant) plant habitat, and specializes on feeding on the halophytic plants.
The main threat to the Golden Vizcacha Rat is habitat loss due to the expansion of olive plantation. Its global population is confined to a single location and occupies less than ten square kilometers. Therefore any threats as this site have the potential to wipe out the entire species,
There are no known specific conservation measures currently in place for the Golden Vizcacha Rat, and the species dies not occur in any protected areas. With such a small and declining area of habitat, urgent conservation action is likely to be needed if the species is to be saved from extinction.
Geographic Region of the Golden Vizcacha Rat
Credit: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
To learn more about Golden Vizcacha Rat, click here. Or visit the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ by clicking their logo below.
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