Abstract

RAMIREZ-CHAVES, Héctor E.  and  MANTILLA-MELUK, Hugo. New record of the Colombian weasel Mustela felipei (Carnivora: Mustelidae), with notes on its distribution and conservation. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2009, vol.16, n.2, pp.379-388. ISSN 0327-9383.

We report a new specimen of M. felipei for Colombia, which constitutes the sixth confirmed record for the species. We reconsidered the identification of two Ecuadorian specimens from Mera and Valle de Tumbaco previously reported as M. felipei. We include some taxonomic notes to differentiate between the two species of Mustela recorded in Colombia M. felipei y M. frenata. Based on confirmed records of M. felipei we suggest a model of potential distribution of the species created with the Maxent algorithm. Information on M. felipei potential distribution and geographic data on protected areas in Colombia was combined in ArcGIS 9.3 to identify areas of conservation for this taxon in the country. Our data support the affinity between M. felipei distribution and highland ecosystems, and its apparent ecological incapability for colonizing the lowlands. In our model, areas of high habitat suitability (>60%) were associated with five protected areas in Colombia recognized by the Sistema de Parques Naturales Nacionales (PNN). We propose the establishment of systematic censuses and monitoring plans across identified protected areas for M. felipei, with special attention to PNN Puracé which area is completely contained within the area of high suitability for M. felipei in our model.

Keywords : Colombia; Mustela felipei; Mustela frenata.

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