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Home/Species/ Yellow-nosed Cotton Rat

Sigmodon ochrognathus

V. Bailey, 1902

Yellow-nosed Cotton Rat

G4Apparently Secure (G4G5) Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100939
Element CodeAMAFF07040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyCricetidae
GenusSigmodon
Other Common Names
Una Rata Algodonera (ES)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Conservation Status
Review Date1998-08-11
Change Date1998-08-11
Edition Date1998-08-11
Edition AuthorsClausen, M. K.
Range Extent20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Moderately widespread in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico; occurrences estimated at 101+; possibly declining, but no specific information; U.S. populations moderately threatened by habitat elimination and degradation.
Range Extent Comments
Southeastern Arizona, extreme southwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Texas south to Durango, Mexico, from 915 to 2,593 meters (Arizona Game and Fish Department 1997). In Arizona, bounded by the Boboquivari, Santa Rita, and Santa Catalina mountains to the northwest, the Galiuro Mountains to the north, and the Chiricahua Mountains to the east (Arizona Game and Fish Department 1997). Limited in New Mexico to Hidalgo County and (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 1997) and in Texas to Jeff Davis, Presidio, and Brewster counties. The Mexican distribution includes northern Durango, western Coahuila, Chihuahua, and northeastern Sonora (Rappole and Tipton 1987).
Occurrences Comments
No information is available from Mexico, and United Sates information varies from specific to general. The Arizona Natural Heritage Program has recorded 32 extant occurrences and has assigned a rank of S3S4, usually 21-100 or over 100 occurrences (Sabra Schwartz, pers. comm., 1998). Frey (pers. comm., 1998) stated that there may be more than 101 populations in Arizona and New Mexico. Schmidley (1977) mapped 12 collection sites in Texas. The Texas Heritage Program has not recorded occurrences, but has applied a state rank of S3, typically 21-100 occurrences. Ranked S2 by the New Mexico Heritage Program, typically 6-20 occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
Threatened by habitat elimination and degradation due to overgrazing or other factors reducing or eliminating native perennial grass (Arizona Game and Fish Department 1997; Jennifer Frey, pers. comm., 1998). In Texas, grassland habitats have been degraded through altered fire regimes and increased urbanization (Mark Galyoun, pers. comm., 1998). The degree of threat to United States populations is considered moderate (Mark Galyoun and Jennifer Frey, pers. comm., 1998).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Dry rocky slopes in oak-pinyon-juniper habitat, montane meadows in ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests, rocky slopes of desert mountains with scattered bunches of grass, and grassy montane flats with deep soils, few rocks (in areas where it is the only cotton rat present). May nest underground or in or under clump of grass or agave (Davis and Sidner, in Wilson and Ruff 1999; Hoffmeister 1986).

Reproduction

Undoubtedly produces multiple litters annually. Gestation lasts probably 33-36 days. Litter size is 2-6. Females less than 2 months old may breed (Hoffmeister 1986).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedGrassland/herbaceousDesertCropland/hedgerow
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
New MexicoS2Yes
ArizonaS4Yes
TexasS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial development——High (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areas——High (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture——High (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching——High (continuing)
7 - Natural system modifications——High (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppression——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (2)
Arizona (2)
AreaForestAcres
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
References (32)
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  2. Arizona Game and Fish Department. 1997. <i>Sigmodon ochrognathus</i>. Unpublished abstract compiled and edited by the Heritage Data Management System, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, Arizona. 3 pp.
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