A new threat for the rarest neotropical carnivore: the vulnerable Colombian weasel, Neogale felipei

Abstract

The Colombian weasel, Neogale felipei, previously included in the genus Mustela, is considered the rarest carnivore in the Neotropics and is known from only eight localities in Colombia and Ecuador. It is currently classified as Vulnerable, but little is known about the direct threats that the species faces. We present a new locality record for N. felipei in the Andes of southwestern Colombia based on a road-killed specimen. The record is relevant because it provides additional information about morphological variation and describe a new threat to its populations that even affects individuals within protected areas such as the Puracé National Park, where the specimen was found.