Alston s Cotton Rat vs Cuetzalan Salamander

Sigmodon alstoni compared with Aquiloeurycea quetzalanensis

Key Differences

• Alston s Cotton Rat is Least Concern while Cuetzalan Salamander is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alston s Cotton Rat	Cuetzalan Salamander
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Caudata (Caudata)
Family	Cricetidae	Plethodontidae
Genus	Sigmodon	Aquiloeurycea
Species	Sigmodon alstoni	Aquiloeurycea quetzalanensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Alston s Cotton Rat and Cuetzalan Salamander share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Alston s Cotton Rat

LC — Least Concern

Cuetzalan Salamander

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alston s Cotton Rat	Cuetzalan Salamander
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alston s Cotton Rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Colombia and Venezuela.

Cuetzalan Salamander

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Nearctic and Neotropic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Mexico. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Alston s Cotton Rat

The Alston s Cotton Rat (Sigmodon alstoni) is a species in the genus Sigmodon. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Distributed across Colombia and Venezuela.