CONSERVATION OF ENDEMIC MAMMALS OF MEXICO - THE PEROTE GROUND-SQUIRREL (SPERMOPHILUS-PEROTENSIS)

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.