Abrocoma

Barlow, John, 1837, February 28 th, 1837, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 37, pp. 23-32 : 30-31

Abrocoma *

Dentes primores § acuti, eradicati, anticè laeves: molares utrinque ⅜ subaequales, illis maxillae superioris in areas duas transver ­ sales ob plicas vitreas acutè indentatas divisis; plicis utriusque lateris vix aequè profundis; illis mandibulae inferioris in très partes divisis, plicis vitreis bis intemè, semel externè indentatis, areâ prima sagittae cuspidem fingente, caeteris acutè triangularibus.

Artus subaequales.

Antipedes 4-dactyli, extemo brevissimo, intermediis longissimis et ferè aequalibus.

Pedes postici 5-dactyli; digito interno brevissimo. breves

et debiles, ilio digiti secundi lato et lamellari; omnibus seti3

rigidis obtectis.

Caput mediocre, auribus magnis, membranaceis; oculis mediocribus.

Cauda breviuscula.

Vellus perlongum, et molle.

“ The genus Abrocoma is evidently allied on the one hand to Oc ­ todon, Ctenomys , and Poephagomys , and it appears to me almost as evidently allied on the other hand, to the Chinchïllidoe. The denti ­ tion, however, differs considerably from either of the above-men ­ tioned genera, or, from either of those of the family Chinchillid <e, and in fact indicates a new generic form *. From Ctenomys and Poephagomys the present genus is readily distinguished, by the comparatively large size of the ears, the small delicate claws, and smaller size of the inci ­ sors; and from Octodon by the uniform length of the hairs on the tail.

" In the structure of the feet the genus Abrocoma approaches very nearly to Octodon , not only in the form, but in having the soles both of the fore and hind feet (which are devoid of hair) covered with mi ­ nute round fleshy tubercles. In Octodon , however, the toes have on their under side transverse incisions as observed in the Muridoe, a character, however, not found in Abrocoma ; here the under side of the toes is, like the sole of the foot, covered with tubercles.

" The extreme softness of the fur of the animals about to be de ­ scribed, suggested for them the generic name of Abrocoma . The fur consists of hairs of two lengths, and the longer hairs are so ex ­ tremely slender that they might almost be compared to the web of the spider. The specific names applied are those of the distinguished naturalists who first made us acquainted with the two genera Octo ­ don and Poephagomys , these being very nearly allied to Abrocoma .”