M. Valdez et G. Ceballos, CONSERVATION OF ENDEMIC MAMMALS OF MEXICO - THE PEROTE GROUND-SQUIRREL (SPERMOPHILUS-PEROTENSIS), Journal of mammalogy, 78(1), 1997, pp. 74-82
About 25% of all land mammals from Mexico face conservation problems.
Endemic species, particularly those with restricted distributions, con
tribute a disproportionately large number of species to the total numb
er of endangered species. The Perote ground squirrel (Spermophilus per
otensis). a species endemic to Mexico, has a distribution limited to t
he states of Puebla and Veracruz. Its geographic range is restricted t
o a 100-km strip covering 2.457 km(2) in the El Oriental Basin, where
they occur in only IG localities on arid plains and valleys at elevati
ons of 2,200-2,700 m above sea level. Habitat destruction and fragment
ation have been severe in tile El Oriental Basin, leading to small iso
lated populations with high probabilities of extinction, and threateni
ng the long-term survival of the species. Mean distance between locali
ties was 15.8 km, which clearly indicates the severity of fragmentatio
n. The Perote ground squirrel is a good example of the conservation pr
oblems faced by many Mexican endemics. Conservation of these species s
hould be a priority for Mexico.