Texas' Threatened Mammal: Coues' Rice Rat (Oryzomys couesi)

5% of the profits support Endangered & Threatened Species.

The threatened Coues' Rice Rat builds their nests in the South Texas marsh waters of Hidalgo County where they weave their homes within the cattails and bulrush (grass-like plants).⁠ ⁠

©Juliet Whitsett |Social: @juliet_whitsett_art

COLOR PALETTE SAMPLED FROM IMAGES OF THE COUES' RICE RAT.

SPECIES INFO:

The threatened Coues' Rice Rat builds their nests in the South Texas marsh waters of Hidalgo County where they weave their homes within the cattails and bulrush (grass-like plants).⁠ ⁠

This piece is unlike others I have created in the series as it includes the Coues' Rat in its habitat. Land drainage practices in South Texas have unfortunately contributed to this mammal's habitat loss. I found a potent statement referenced- According to Cameron and Scheel, 2001, p. 676, "A 2001 study predicted that climate change would drive the Texas population to extinction, because no suitable habitats would continue to exist."⁠

IMAGE:

© Gerson Herrera https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/4512160

RANGE: Distribution of Oryzomys couesi (in red) and other species of Oryzomys.See text.

SUPPORT:

Shop this art HERE or gift to theThreatened Texas Series: Venmo @Juliet-Whitsett (Your patronage donation helps spread the word about Texas' Endangered & Threatened Species).

THREATENED TEXAS SERIES:

There are 148 Threatened Species & 74 Threatened Species in Texas. Each palette & species is unique. I have sampled colors from images of actual Texas Threatened Species and created original art inspired by each group.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 5% of the profits from this series enthusiastically goes to help Threatened & Endangered Species.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Wonder what you can do to help? One easy thing I have found is to write my US house Rep. and ask them to support The Recovering America's Wildlife Act RAWA⁠ Find out more at https://www.txwildlifealliance.org/or if you aren't in Texas, https://ournatureusa.com/

SOURCES:

https://www.depts.ttu.edu/nsrl/mammals-of-texas-on...

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/txrod...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oryzomys_couesi

https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/4512160