Thomasomys vulcani (Thomas, 1898)

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 : 496

643.

Pichincha Oldfield Mouse

Thomasomys vulcani

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

Other common names: Pichincha Thomasomys

Taxonomy. Aepeomys vulcani Thomas, 1898 , “Mount Pichincha [= Pichincha Volcano], [Pichincha Province], Ecuador, at about 12,000 feet [= 3658 m].” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. NC Andes of Ecuador (Pichincha and Carchi provinces).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 116-126 mm, tail 115-135 mm, hindfoot 26— 32 mm, ear 16-22 mm; weight 32-57 g. Dorsum of the Pichincha Oldfield Mouse is dark gray-brown; venter is gray, with dark yellow tone that contrasts dorsum. Short vibrissae do not surpass ears when they are inclined backward. Legs are pale white at top and bottom. Tail is short, uniform dark, with small light gray hair; tail is firmly attached to tail bone with ligaments that make it very difficult to detach at the time of preparation. Body odor resembles that of a skunk.

Habitat. Paramo and subtropical and temperate forests at elevations of 1400-4500 m. In northern Ecuador, one Pichincha Oldfield Mouse was recorded in ecotone and another in interior of a Polylepis ( Rosaceae ) forest.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Pichincha Oldfield Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Some individuals have been caught on rocky wooded slopes where they have burrows of 2:5.7-6 cm underground in soil and debris.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Brito & Arguero (2016), Brito, Teska & Ojala-Barbour (2015), Cabrera (1961), Gyldenstolpe (1932a), Lee et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (1993), Pacheco (2003, 2015b), Pacheco, Tirira & Boada (2008d), Pozo et al. (2006), Stone (1914), Thomas (1898d), Tirira (2007), Voss (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. NC Andes of Ecuador (Pichincha and Carchi provinces).