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FACT SHEET Embargoed Animals and Monkeypox Virus December 8, 2003

On June 11, 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a joint order prohibiting the importation of all African rodents into the United States. The joint order also banned within the United States any sale, offering for distribution, transport, or release into the environment, of prairie dogs and six genera of African rodents. The joint order was enacted as part of the public health response to the first reported outbreak of monkeypox in the United States. Below are pictures and the species names of some of the embargoed animals. Click on any image to enlarge it. On November 4, 2003, the joint order was replaced by an interim final rule which maintains the bans on importation of African rodents and the sale, distribution, transport, and release into the environment as previously described.

For additional information about the embargo, see the Restrictions on African Rodents and Prairie Dogs, Interim Final Rule and the Interim Questions and Answers on Interim Final Rule Prohibiting Importation of African Rodents.

Prairie Dogs
Note: Prairie dogs are native to North America.
Cynomys sp.
C. ludovicianus – Black-tailed prairie dog (most common [pictured at bottom])
C. gunnisoni – Gunnison’s prairie dog
C. pavidens – Utah prairie dog (threatened)
C. leucurus – White-tailed prairie dog
C. mexicanus – Mexican prairie dog
Images courtesy APHIS USDA

Tree Squirrels or Sun Squirrels
Heliosciurus sp.
H. gambianus - Gambian sun squirrel
H. mutabilis - Sun squirrel
H. punctatus - Temmicks spotted squirrel
H. rufobrachium - Red-legged sun squirrel
H. ruwensorii - Ruwenzori sun squirrel
H. undulatus - Sun squirrel
Photograph courtesy www.natureimages.co.uk



Rope Squirrels or Tree Squirrels
Funisciurus sp.
F. carruthersi - Mountain tree squirrel
F. congicus - Striped tree squirrel
F. anerythrus - Thomas tree squirrel
F. pyrrhopus - Cuviers fire-footed tree squirrel (pictured)
F. bayonii - Bacages tree squirrel
F. isabella - Lady Burtons squirrel
F. lemniscatus - Lescortes four-stripe tree squirrel
F. substriatus - DeWintons tree squirrel
F. luecogenys - Red-cheeked squirrel
Image courtesy triadrescue.org



Dormice
Graphiurus sp.
15 species, all from Africa:

G. kelleni G. microtis G. christyi G. platyops G. rupicola G. monardi G. parvus

G. murinus G. lorraineus G. surdus G. crassicaudatus G. hueti G. ocularis G. olga

Images courtesy rodentfancy.org



Gambian giant-pouched rats
Cricetomys sp.
C. gambianus (pictured)
C. emini
Image courtesy Utah Hogle Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo



Brush-Tailed Porcupines
Atherurus sp.
A. Africanus - African species (pictured)
A. Macrorurus - Asian species, may be threatened



Striped Mice
Hybomys sp.
H. basilii - Father Basilio's Striped Mouse
H. eisentrau - Eisentraut's Striped Mouse
H. lunaris - Moon Striped Mouse
H. planifrons - Miller's Striped Mouse
H. trivirgatus - Temminck's Striped Mouse
H. univittatus - Peter's Striped Mouse
Image courtesy www.nmnh.si.edu

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