Akodon Meyen, 1833

Guy G. Musser & Michael D. Carleton, 1993, Order Rodentia - Family Muridae, Mammal Species of the World (2 nd Edition), Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press, pp. 501-755 : 688

Akodon Meyen, 1833 . Verhandl. Kais. Leop.-Carol. Akad. Wiss., 16(2):599.

TYPE SPECIES: Akodon boliviensis Meyen, 1833 .

SYNONYMS: Abrothrix , Chalcomys , Deltamys , Hypsimys , Microxus , Thaptomys .

COMMENTS: The morphotypical akodontine genus stands at the nexus of a host of specific- and generic-level taxonomic problems. To review all classificatory variations here would be more confusing than enlightening; suffice it to say that the nomenclatural history of the following genus-group taxa has been variously intertwined with that of Akodon : Abrothrix , Bolomys, Chalcomys , Chroeomys , Deltamys , Hypsimys , Microxus , Thalpomys , and Thaptomys (especially see Cabrera, 1961; Ellerman, 1941; Gyldenstolpe, 1932; Reig, 1984, 1987; Tate, 1932#; Thomas, 1916c). Comprehension of akodont systematics has been hindered by lack of explicit specimen documentation, careful character analyses, and a phylogenetic context, which in turn erodes decisions about the ranking of genus-group taxa. Fortunately, renewed interest in basic revisionary study will render the alpha systematics of akodonts less imposing (see Apfelbaum and Reig, 1989; Hershkovitz, 1990«, c; Myers, 1989; Myers et al., 1990; Patton et al., 1989; Reig, 1987). See accounts of Bolomys, Chroeomys, and Thalpomys for history and arguments on their generic status.