Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report
CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
PROPOSED FOR MURIDAE
Native, forest-dwelling species require conservation of
adequate areas of intact habitat. It is not known whether the
current NBCA system is adequate for them, because too little
is known about their habitat needs. Further surveys
throughout Lao PDR, including in forested areas outside
NBCAs, are required to determine the habitat use and range
of non-commensal species. There is a particular need for further
scientific studies and museum collections to determine
the taxonomic status of many groups of rats. Long series of
specimens are required to determine the identification characters
of some groups (especially in the genus Niviventer)
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and to determine their relationships with species elsewhere
in South-east Asia. It is quite possible that additional species
of rats remain to be discovered in Lao PDR.
Research is also required to determine whether these
species, especially native forest rats, can tolerate current
levels of harvesting for food. Urban and commensal species
are not presently in need of any special conservation efforts,
and may in some areas actually be pests.
Key species which may be of special concern are listed
in Table 6. Most other species could have been listed as
‘Little Known in Lao PDR’. This designation has mainly
been used for those species for which Lao PDR may be of
special significance (e.g. regional endemics).