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Euneomys mordax, Thomas, 1912

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 : 505

publication ID

 https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6707142

DOI

 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6727591

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F06D13-FF4C-2085-0887-17EA01F1F5D7

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

 Euneomys mordax
status

 

671. View Plate 29: Cricetidae

Biting Chinchilla Rat

Euneomys mordax View in CoL

French: Eunéomys du Mendoza / German: BeiR-Chinchillamaus / Spanish: Rata chinchilla mordaz

Other common names: Biting Chincilla Mouse, Large Euneomys

Taxonomy. Euneomys mordax Thomas, 1912 View in CoL , “Fort San Rafael, Province of Mendoza,” Argentina . According to O. P. Pearson and M. I. Christie in 1991, accuracy of the type locality is in doubt. Questioned by O. P. Pearson and H. A. Lagiglia in 1992 and changed to probably near Peteroa Volcano, on the Argentinean—Chilean border.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. WC Argentina (Mendoza and Neuquén provinces) and adjacent region of Chile. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 145-149 mm, tail 78-85 mm, ear 24-27 mm, hindfoot 28-32 mm; weight 78-86 g. The Biting Chinchilla Ratis larger than that the Patagonian Chinchilla Rat ( E. chinchilloides ) and Peterson’s Chinchilla Rat (E. peterson). Its fur is long, thick, and woolly; hairs on back are c.12-13 mm long; general color is dull gray, belly paler, not sharply defined, and hairs broadly washed with cream buff; ears are of medium length, well-haired, and blackish; manus and pes are dull grayish white above; foreclaws are not enlarged; and tail is thickly haired, grayish white with indistinct darker line above. Incisors very broad and heavy, with strong groove in more or less central position. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 42, FN = 66.

Habitat. Typically wet alpine meadows characterized by deep moist soils and nearly 100% ground coverof grasses, sedges, brush, and patches of southern beech ( Nothofagus antarctica, Nothofagaceae ) at elevations of 1600-3300 m (mostly above 1800 m). The Biting Chinchilla Rat appears to be relatively ecologically specialized.

Food and Feeding. The Biting Chinchilla Rat is herbivorous.

Breeding. The Biting Chinchilla Rat apparently breeds in summer (December—March).

Activity patterns. The Biting Chinchilla Ratis terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Biting Chinchilla Rats were collected in clearly defined systems of runways and tunnels.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Nevertheless, recent extirpations suggest that the Biting Chinchilla Rat could be threatened by climatic change, particularly considering its restricted distribution in high-elevation Andean habitats.

Bibliography. Braun & Pardinas (2015), D'Elia (2016a), Greer (1965), Jayat et al. (2006), Mann (1944), Ojeda, D’Elia et al. (2005), Ojeda, Novillo et al. (2015), Pearson & Christie (1991), Pearson & Lagiglia (1992), Pine et al. (1979), Reise & Gallardo (1990), Reise & Venegas (1987), Hershkovitz (1962), Tammone et al. (2016), Thomas (1912c¢).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Cricetidae

Genus

Euneomys

Loc

Euneomys mordax

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr 2017
2017
Loc

Euneomys mordax

Thomas 1912
1912

Specimens

GBIF Dataset (for parent article) Darwin Core Archive (for parent article) View in SIBiLS Plain XML RDF