The Cozumel Thrasher

Created by Robert L. Curry

Last modified: 07 Jun 2010

Mammals of Cozumel

Overview

Study of Cozumel's mammals has focused on endemic taxa, particularly those that exhibit dwarfism in comparison to mainland relatives; these include the native raccoon, coati, and gray fox. Recent research (Alfredo Cuarón and colleagues) has additionally investigated the conservation status and threats of the native taxa.

Paw print of endemic Cozumel raccoon

Endemic species

Cozumel Island coati (Nasua nelsoni; considered by some authorities to be a subspecies of the white-nosed coati, Nasua narica)

Cozumel raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus)

Cozumel harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys spectabilis)

Endemic subspecies

Cozumel gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus; probable endemic subspecies or species, but not yet authoritatively determined)

Cozumel collared peccary (Pecari tajacu nanus)

Cozumel Coues' rice rat (Oryzomys couesi cozumelae)

Cozumel white-footed deer mouse (Peromyscus leucopus cozumelae) Possibly extinct (Fuentes-Montemayor et al. 2009)

References

Cuarón, A. D., M. A. Martínez-Morales, K. W. McFadden, D. Valenzuela, and M. E. Gompper. 2004. The status of dwarf carnivores on Cozumel Island, Mexico. Biodiversity and Conservation 13:317-331 (pdf reprint)

Fuentes-Montemayor, E., A. D. Cuarón, E. Vázquez-Domínguez, J. Benítez-Malvido, D. Valenzuela-Galván, and E. Andresen. 2009. Living on the edge: roads and edge effects on small mammal populations. Journal of Animal Ecology 78:857 - 865

Gompper, M. E., A. E. Petrites, and R. L. Lyman. 2006. Cozumel Island fox (Urocyon sp.) dwarfism and possible divergence history based on subfossil bones. Journal of Zoology 270:71-77

Martínez-Morales, M. A., and A. D. Cuarón. 1999. Boa constrictor, an introduced predator threatening the endemic fauna on Cozumel Island, Mexico. Biodiversity and Conservation 8:957-963. (abstract)

Links

These links point to external web sites

IUCN Red List: Cozumel Island coati (Nasua nelsoni)

IUCN Red List: Cozumel raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus)

IUCN Red List: Cozumel harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys spectabilis)