Oxymycterus amazonicus, Hershkovitz, 1994

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 : 464-465

525.

Amazonian Hocicudo

Oxymycterus amazonicus

French: Hocicudo dAmazonie / German: Amazonas-Grabmaus / Spanish: Ratén hocicudo del Amazonas

Taxonomy. Oxymycterus amazonicus Hershkovitz, 1994 , “Fordlandia, right bank, lower Rio Tapajoz [sic], Para, Brazil, 3°40’S, 552 30'W.” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Lower Amazon of W & C Brazil.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 140-148 mm, tail 86— 95 mm, ear 16— 20 mm, hindfoot 28-29 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Species of Oxymycterus can be easily recognized by long muzzles, small eyes, and long and strong claws on forefeet and hindfeet. Tail is shorter than head-body length, and ears usually protrude above fur but are short and rounded. The Amazonian Hocicudo is a small species of Oxymycterus . Dorsum and sides up to base oftail and hindfeet are dark brown, contrasting reddish orange venter and paler or whitish throat. Specimens of Oxymycterus have a distinct and strong scent when caught, similar to acrylic aldehyde, that is attributed to a putative warning function; anal protuberance recorded in Oxymycterus could be associated with this scent production.

Habitat. Mainly lowland moist forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Trapping data of the Amazonian Hocicudo suggest nocturnal activity and terrestrial habits. Several authors considered these rodents as fossorial or semi-fossorial within the sigmodontine radiation. Nevertheless, there are no data associating Oxymycterus with burrows or subterranean galleries. The “fossorial body plan” displayed by species of Oxymycterus more likely could be constrained by phylogeny than by functionality.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Hershkovitz (1994), Hoffmann et al. (2002), Oliveira & Gongalves (2015), Patton et al. (2008b).

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. Lower Amazon of W & C Brazil.