Oxymycterus delator, Thomas, 1903

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 465

526.

Spy Hocicudo

Oxymycterus delator

French: Hocicudo espion / German: Paraguay-Grabmaus / Spanish: Ratén hocicudo delator

Other common names: Paraguayan Hocicudo

Taxonomy. Oxymycterus delator Thomas, 1903 , “Sapucay [= Sapucai, Paraguari Department], Paraguay.” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. From NE Brazil S to E Paraguay.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 115-174 mm, tail 70-120 mm, ear 16-20 mm, hindfoot 23-31 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. See general characters of the genus under the Amazonian Hocicudo ( O. amazonicus ) account. The Spy Hocicudo is a small species of Oxymycterus . Dorsum is dark to black in Paraguay and central Brazil and paler in north-eastern and south-eastern Brazil; marked patch of paler hairs is present above cheeks in most specimens. Venter is generally buffy but darkened in some regions due to visibility of slatecolored hair bases; sides of body color differs from those of dorsal and ventral parts. Tail, hindfeet, and ears are dark to black. Tail has relatively long hairs with visible scales.

Habitat. Mainly cerrado, montane grasslands, and borders between dry grasslands and wetlands.

Food and Feeding. The Spy Hocicudo is mainly insectivorous, apparently preferring some species of termites. They find termite nests by gleaning on the ground’s surface and uncovering hidden trails.

Breeding. Pregnant Spy Hocicudos with up to four embryos each were collected in November, February, and July. Males mark their territories with urine and feces and are apparently more territorial than females.

Activity patterns. The Spy Hocicudo is diurnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Alho (1982), Bonvicino, Lemos & Weksler (2005), Bonvicino, Lindbergh & Maroja (2002), Borchert & Hansen (1983), Hershkovitz (1994), Oliveira (1998), Oliveira & Goncalves (2015), Patterson et al. (2016), Redford (1984).

Figures

523. Huanchaca Burrowing Mouse (Juscelinomys huanchacae), 524. Candango Burrowing Mouse (Juscelinomys candango), 525. Amazonian Hocicudo (Oxymycterus amazonicus), 526. Spy Hocicudo (Oxymycterus delator), 527. Atlantic Forest Hocicudo (Oxymycterus dosytrichos), 528. Quaestor Hocicudo (Oxymycterus quaestor), 529. Inca Hocicudo (Oxymycterus inca), 530. Paramo Hocicudo (Oxymycterus paramensis), 531. Elfin Forest Hocicudo (Oxymycterus nigrifrons), 532. Upper Yungas Inca Hocicudo (Oxymycterus juliacae), 533. Small Yungas Hocicudo (Oxymycterus hiska), 534. Quechuan Hocicudo (Oxymycterus hucucha), 535. Mount Caparao Hocicudo (Oxymycterus caparoae), 536. Red Hocicudo (Oxymycterus rufus), 537. Darwin’s Hocicudo (Oxymycterus nasutus), 538. Ravine Hocicudo (Oxymycterus wayku), 539. Cook’s Hocicudo (Oxymycterus joser), 540. Common Cerrado Mouse (Thalpomys cerradensis), 541. Hairy-eared Cerrado Mouse (Thalpomys lasiotis), 542. Roraima Mouse (Podoxymys roraimae), 543. Blackish Grass Mouse (Thaptomys nigrita), 544. Ecuadorean Akodont (Necromys punctulatus), 545. Northern Akodont (Necromys urichi), 546. Hairy-tailled Akodont (Necromys lasiurus), 547. Pleasant Akodont (Necromys amoenus), 548. White-chinned Akodont (Necromys lactens), 549. Lillo’s Akodont (Necromys lilloi), 550. Dark-furred Akodont (Necromys obscurus), 551. Kemp's Grass Mouse (Deltamys kempi), 552. Araucaria Grass Mouse (Deltamys araucaria), 553. Serra do Mar Grass Mouse (Castoria angustidens)

Distribution. From NE Brazil S to E Paraguay.