Eligmodontia typus, F. Cuvier, 1837

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 : 519

717.

Lowland Gerbil Mouse

Eligmodontia typus

French: Eligmodonte de Cuvier / German: Eigentliche Hochlandwiistenmaus / Spanish: Raton colilargo de tierras bajas

Other common names: Eastern Patagonian Laucha, Highland Gerbil Mouse

Taxonomy. Eligmodontia typus F. Cuvier, 1837 , “environs de Buenos-Ayres [= Buenos Aires],” Argentina .

Provenance of type material has been discussed and was probably collected in south-western Buenos Aires Province, Argentina , but this issue and taxonomy of E. typus need further research attention. Monotypic.

Distribution. WC to S Argentina .

Descriptive notes. Head-body 85 mm, tail 96 mm, ear 18 mm, hindfoot 23-5 mm; weight 17 g (mean values derived from males and females from north-eastern Patagonia). See general characters of the genus under the Hairy-footed Gerbil Mouse ( E. hirtipes ) account. The Lowland Gerbil Mouse is a small species of Eligmodontia , with tail slightly larger than head-body length. Hair is short, with overall brownish dorsal tones. Back is separated from venter by buffy lateral line of varying distinctiveness; underparts are white, with hairs gray or white at their bases throughout or confined mainly to margins. Ears are moderately long (20-23% of head-body length). Forefeet and hindfeet are white above; soles have short white hair. Tail is 110-121% of headbody length, slightly bicolored with dark and especially wide dorsal stripe; it usually either lacks terminal pencil or has one less than 5 mm long.

Habitat. Mostly sandy areas covered by creosote bush ( Larrea , Zygophyllaceae ) or mesquite ( Prosopis , Fabaceae ), open shrublands, and areas disturbed by cattle grazing primarily at elevations below 1000 m.

Food and Feeding. The Lowland Gerbil Mouse mainly eats seeds, followed by leaves and arthropods; seed hoarding has been reported. It resists water deprivation and concentrates urine as a strategy to minimize water loss.

Breeding. In north-eastern Patagonia, Lowland Gerbil Mice with reproductive signals are recorded in November—March; number of embryos 2-6.

Activity patterns. The Lowland Gerbil Mouse is nocturnal, terrestrial, and a skilful climber.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Locomotion of the Lowland Gerbil Mouse varies according to openness of habitat. Mean travel distance was 76-8 m, and mean area traveled was 581-9 m? distances traveled beneath shrubs were longer (1-3 m) than distances beneath subshrubs (0-65 m), and distances traveled beneath both were longer than between open microhabitats (0-35 m). In Mendoza, averaged home range was 812-9 m* without significant differences between males and females.

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

Bibliography. Bozinovic, Cruz-Neto et al. (2007), Campos et al. (2007), Cassola (2016x), Corbalan (2006), Cor balan & Debandi (2006), Corbalan & Ojeda (2004), Corbalan et al. (2006), Cuvier (1837), Da Silva (2011), Diaz & Ojeda (1999), Giannoni, Borghi et al. (2005), Giannoni, Campos et al. (2013), Giannoni, Dacar et al. (2001), Hershkovitz (1962), Lanzone, Braun et al. (2015), Lanzone, Ojeda & Gallardo (2007), Lessa et al. (2010), Mares (1975b, 1988), Mares et al. (2008), Massoia & Fornes (1964b), Sikes et al. (1997), Taraborelli, Borruel & Mangeaud (2009), Taraborelli, Dacar & Giannoni (2003), Tiranti (1997), Udrizar (2009).

Figures

696. Calaca’s White-tailed Mouse (Calassomys apicalis), 697. Peruvian Vesper Mouse (Calomys sorella), 698. Short-tailed Vesper Mouse (Calomys miurus), 699. Coastal Vesper Mouse (Calomys chinchilico), 700. Arequipa Vesper Mouse (Calomys achaku), 701. Long-tailed Vesper Mouse (Calomys frida), 702. Andean Vesper Mouse (Calomys lepidus), 703. Drylands Vesper Mouse (Calomys musculinus), 704. Hummelinck’s Vesper Mouse (Calomys hummelincki), 705. Delicate Vesper Mouse (Calomys tener), 706. Small Vesper Mouse (Calomys laucha), 707. Rejected Vesper Mouse (Calomys expulsus), 708. Tocantins Vesper Mouse (Calomys tocantinsi), 709. Large Vesper Mouse (Calomys callosus), 710. Crafty Vesper Mouse (Calomys callidus), 711. Bolivian Vesper Mouse (Calomys boliviae), 712. Cordoba Vesper Mouse (Calomys venustus), 713. Cerqueira’s Vesper Mouse (Calomys cerqueirai), 714. Hairy-footed Gerbil Mouse (Eligmodontia hirtipes), 715. Andean Gerbil Mouse (Eligmodontia puerulus), 716. Bolson Gerbil Mouse (Eligmodontia bolsonensis), 717. Lowland Gerbil Mouse (Eligmodontia typus), 718. Dune Gerbil Mouse (Eligmodontia dunaris), 719. Monte Gerbil Mouse (Eligmodontia moreni), 720. Morgan’s Gerbil Mouse (Eligmodontia morgani), 721. Pale Pericote (Graomys domorum), 722. Chaco Pericote (Graomys chacoensis), 723. Otro Cerro Pericote (Graomys edithae), 724. Common Pericote (Graomys griseoflavus)

Distribution. WC to S Argentina .