Caenolestes caniventer Anthony, 1921

Lee Jr, Thomas E., Tinoco, Nicolas, Crockett, Seth C., Camacho, M. Alejandra & Burneo, Santiago F., 2021, Report on the mammals of Quimsacocha National Recreation Area, Azuay Province, Ecuador, Check List 17 (1), pp. 125-131 : 127

Caenolestes caniventer Anthony, 1921

Material captured. One female ( QCAZ 17851), measurements (in mm): total 230, ear 14, foot 24; 03°05′37″S, 079°13′38″W; elevation 3,572 m; 4 August 2018; collec- tors: Lee, Tinoco and Crockett. This specimen was collected in a Sherman trap by a roadside stream.

Identification. Our specimen shows clear countershading of the species ( Patterson 2015; Tirira 2017). The dorsal fur is a dark grayish brown ( Fig. 2A). The ventral fur is whitish or cream colored. The tail is bicolored ( Tirira 2017). The antorbital vacuity is comma-shaped opening bordered by the frontal, maxillary and nasal bones ( Ojala-Barbour et al. 2013). The incisive foramen is slightly hooked at the margins ( Ojala-Barbour et al. 2013). Caenolestes caniventer is very similar to C. sangay , however, the two species can be distinguished by the presence of a dark pectoral spot in C. caniventer ( Ojala-Barbour et al. 2013; Patterson 2015). Furthermore, C. sangay is found on the eastern slope of the Andes whereas C. caniventer is found on the western slope of the Andes.

Remarks. This specimen represents an elevation record at 3,572 m for the species. The previous record was 3,420 m ( Tirira 2017).

RODENTIA

Family Cricetidae