Thomasomys praetor (Thomas, 1900)

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 : 498-499

651.

Cajamarca Oldfield Mouse

Thomasomys praetor

French: Thomasomys du Cajamarca / German: Cajamarca-Paramomaus / Spanish: Raton de erial de Cajamarca

Other common names: Cajamarca Thomasomys

Taxonomy. Oryzomys praetor Thomas, 1900 , “Eastern slope of Paramo between San Pablo and Cajamarca, Peru. Alt. 4000 metres.” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. W slopes and inter-Andean valleys of N Andes in Peru between Huancabamba Depression and Rio Maranon.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 161-187 mm, tail 180 mm (holotype), ear 23-25 mm, hindfoot 35-38 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Fur of the Cajamarca Oldfield Mouse is long (hairs on mid-back 13-15 mm), soft, dense, and thick. Dorsum is olivaceous grayish, darkened on middle and posterior back; head, cheeks, shoulders, and sides are yellowish gray; and venter is buffy white, with slate-based hairs. Fur above ears is blackish brown and has conspicuous white post-auricular patch. Fur above metatarsals is silvery white. Mystacial vibrissae are moderately long, extending slightly beyond posterior margin of pinnae when bent. Hindfoot is long, with long hallux extending to interphalangeal joint of second digit, or moderately long not reaching that joint. Fifth digit of pes is moderately long, with claw extending close to base of claw of fourth digit. Tail is relatively short (107-116% of head-body length), incipiently bicolored, uniformly brown above, rather paler below, short-haired, and usually with terminal white tip.

Habitat. Montane forest, shrubby paramo, and edge of timberline in dry forests of Rio Maranon Valley and mainly primary and secondary forests and disturbed areas at elevations of 2050-4000 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Cajamarca Oldfield Mouse is nocturnal. The speciesis terrestrial and possibly arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Knowledge of natural history of the Cajamarca Oldfield Mouse is lacking, and it is not known to occur in any protected areas.

Bibliography. Cabrera (1961), Lee et al. (2011), Osgood (1914b), Pacheco (2003, 2015b), Pacheco & Vargas (2008f), Pacheco et al. (2009), Thomas (1900c), Voss (1991a, 2003).

Figures

622. Unicolored Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys monochromos), 623. Venezuelan Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys emeritus), 624. Dressy Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys vestitus), 625. Woodland Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys hylophilus), 626. Niceforo Maria’s Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys nicefor), 627. Popayan Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys popayanus), 628. Shortfaced Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys baeops), 629. Snow-footed Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys niveipes), 630. Principal Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys princeps), 631. Silky Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys bombycinus), 632. Red Andean Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys auricularis), 633. Cinnamon-colored Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys cinnameus), 634. Central Andes Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys contradictus), 635. Ashy-bellied Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys cinererventer), 636. Colombian Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys dispar), 637. Soft-furred Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys laniger), 638. Ash-colored Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys cinereus), 639. Wandering Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys erro), 640. Paramo Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys paramorum), 641. Forest Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys silvestris), 642. Smoky Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys fumeus), 643. Pichincha Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys vulcani), 644. Ucucha Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys ucucha), 645. Taczanowski’s Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys taczanowsku), 646. Golden Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys aureus), 647. White-tipped Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys caudivarius), 648. Hudson's Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys hudsoni), 649. Reddish-backed Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys pyrrhonotus), 650. Montane Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys oreas), 651. Cajamarca Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys praetor), 652. Distinguished Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys notatus), 653. Apeco Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys apeco), 654. Peruvian Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys eleusis), 655. Strong-tailed Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys ischyrus), 656. Reddish-nosed Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys rosalinda), 657. Large-eared Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys macrotis), 658. Ashaninka Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys onkiro), 659. Inca Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys incanus), 660. Kalinowski’s Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys kalinowskii), 661. Slender Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys gracilis), 662. Daphne’s Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys daphne), 663. Anderson’s Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys andersoni), 664. Austral Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys australis), 665. Ladew’s Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys ladewi)

Distribution. W slopes and inter-Andean valleys of N Andes in Peru between Huancabamba Depression and Rio Maranon.