Dwarf Mallow vs Pacific Spiny-rat

Malva pusilla compared with Proechimys decumanus

Key Differences

• Dwarf Mallow is Vulnerable while Pacific Spiny-rat is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Dwarf Mallow	Pacific Spiny-rat
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Malvales (Malvales)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Malvaceae	Echimyidae
Genus	Malva	Proechimys
Species	Malva pusilla	Proechimys decumanus

Conservation Status

Dwarf Mallow

VU — Vulnerable

Pacific Spiny-rat

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Dwarf Mallow	Pacific Spiny-rat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Dwarf Mallow

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, flooded grasslands and savannas, and deserts and xeric shrublands, among 8 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Namibia), Asia (4 countries), Europe (19 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and South America (Ecuador). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Pacific Spiny-rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ecuador. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇪🇨 Ecuador