Thrichomys apereoides (Lund 1839)

Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn, 2005, Order Rodentia - Family Echimyidae, Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3 rd Edition), Volume 2, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 1575-1592 : 1589

Thrichomys apereoides (Lund 1839)

[Nelomys] apereoides Lund 1839 , Afh. K. Danske Vid. Selsk.: 38.

Type Locality: Brazil, Minas Gerais, Lagoa Santa.

Vernacular Names: Common Punare.

Subspecies: :

Subspecies Thrichomys apereoides subsp. apereoides Lund 1839

Subspecies Thrichomys apereoides subsp. laurenteus Thomas 1904

Distribution: S and SE Brazil.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc). Common.

Discussion: Formerly referred to as Cercomys cunicularius , a composite ( Petter, 1973 b; Mares et al., 1981 a:120). Braggio and Bonvicino (2004) have recognized inermis and pachyurus as distinct species on the basis of karyotipic and sequence divergence. Even with the recognition of these two additional species, considerable geographic variation in karyotypes and sequence data remains among populations in Brazil. Specimens collected along the Tocantins and Paraná Rivers in the states of Tocantins and Goiás have a 2n=30 and a FN=56 ( Bonvicino et al., 2002 b), whereas specimens from the states of Bahia and Pernambuco ( T. a. laurenteus) have a 2n=30 and FN=54 (Bonvicino et al., 2002; Leal-Mesquita et al., 1993; Souza and Yonenaga-Yassuda, 1982). Specimens collected from near the type locality ( T. a. apereoides ) have a 2n=28 and a FN=50, whereas specimens from Jaborandi have a 2n=28 and a FN=52 (Bonvicino et al., 2002). More than a single species may still be present. Braggio and Bonvicino (2004) concluded based on analysis of sequence data that the karyotypic form with a 2n=30 and a FN=56 represents an undescribed species. Based on morphological differentiation Reis et al. (2002) suggested that more than one species was present within E Brazil, however, it is unclear how inclusion of material now recognized as inermis may have affected their analyses.