Heteromys (Heteromys) anomalus (Thompson 1815)

[Mus] anomalus Thompson 1815, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., 11: 161.

Type Locality: Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad.

Vernacular Names: Caribbean Spiny Pocket Mouse.

Subspecies::

Subspecies Heteromys (Heteromys) anomalus subsp. anomalus Thompson 1815

Subspecies Heteromys (Heteromys) anomalus subsp. brachialis Osgood 1912

Subspecies Heteromys (Heteromys) anomalus subsp. hershkovitzi Hernández-Camacho 1956

Subspecies Heteromys (Heteromys) anomalus subsp. jesupi J. A. Allen 1899

Distribution: N Colombia, including Magdalena Valley, east to N Venezuela, Trinidad, Tobago, and Margarita Isl. It does not enter Panama (contra Rogers, 1990; Méndez, 1993; Williams et al., 1993; Nowak, 1999; see Anderson, 1999 [2000]).

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Subgenus Heteromys . Subspecies listed by Williams et al. (1993) and distribution mapped by Eisenberg (1989) and Anderson (1999 [2000]). As currently understood, anomalus is likely composite. Anderson (2002) recently described H. oasicus from NW Venezuela, a taxon that Handley (1976) regarded as distinct from anomalus . Populations from the Cordillera de la Costa of Venezuela, above 1000 m, also represent an undescribed species (R. P. Anderson, pers. comm.).