Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Painted tree-rat (Callistomys pictus), recorded as Endangered
Painted tree-rat (Callistomys pictus). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Painted tree-rat

Callistomys pictus

Painted tree-rat is a rodent in the family Echimyidae (order Rodentia) — Callistomys pictus, recorded as Endangered.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Callistomys pictus
Taxonomy
Mammalia · Rodentia · Echimyidae · Callistomys

Appearance

It is white with a strongly contrasting glossy-black cap, back and band down towards its forelimbs. Its long fur is dense and coarse, but not spiny, as in some other members of its family. Specimens often have brown (rather than black) markings, but as far as it is known this is caused by fading and does not occur in the living animals.

With a total length of ca. 30 cm (12 in), it is a relatively large species of spiny rat.

Range and habitat

The painted tree-rat is found in the Atlantic forest. It also occurs in cocoa plantations where some native trees remain.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

In crisis

The painted tree-rat is currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN because of its fragmented distribution, its continuing decline and the quality of its habitat.

Painted tree-rat is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Painted tree-rat, Wikidata item Q302775. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

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Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
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Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

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Photograph of Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Axolotl

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Quick answers

What is Painted tree-rat?
Painted tree-rat is a rodent in the family Echimyidae (order Rodentia) — Callistomys pictus.
What is the conservation status of Painted tree-rat?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Callistomys pictus. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Painted tree-rat live?
The painted tree-rat is found in the Atlantic forest.
Why is Painted tree-rat in crisis?
The painted tree-rat is currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN because of its fragmented distribution, its continuing decline and the quality of its habitat.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Callistomys pictus?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Painted tree-rat a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.