Zygodontomys brevicauda (J. A. Allen and Chapman 1893)

[Zygodontomys] brevicauda (J. A. Allen and Chapman 1893), Bull. Am. Mus . Nat. Hist., 5: 215.

Type Locality: Trinidad, Princes Town.

Vernacular Names: Short-tailed Zygodont.

Synonyms: Zygodontomys cherriei (J. A. Allen 1895); Zygodontomys fraterculus J. A. Allen 1913; Zygodontomys frustrator (J. A. Allen and Chapman 1897); Zygodontomys griseus J. A. Allen 1913; Zygodontomys microtinus (Thomas 1894); Zygodontomys reigi Tranier 1976; Zygodontomys sanctaemartae (J. A. Allen 1899); Zygodontomys seorsus Bangs 1901; Zygodontomys soldadoensis Goodwin 1965; Zygodontomys stellae Thomas 1899; Zygodontomys thomasi J. A. Allen 1901; Zygodontomys tobagi Thomas 1900; Zygodontomys ventriosus Goldman 1912 .

Distribution: Savannas from SE Costa Rica through Panamá, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas, to Brazil north of the Amazon River; including Trinidad and Tobago and smaller continental-shelf islands adjacent Panamá and Venezuela.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Geographic variation evaluated by Voss (1991 a), who recognized cherriei and microtinus, along with the nominate form, as subspecies. Formerly included punctulatus, which Voss (1991 b) reidentified as a member of Bolomys (= Necromys). Karyotypic variation of Brazilian populations reported by Mattevi et al. (2002), who questioned whether brevicauda as currently arranged is a composite; Bonvicino et al. (2003 d) reached the same conclusion based on evaluation of cranial traits and karyotypes.