Oryzomys meridensis Thomas 1894

Oryzomys meridensis Thomas 1894, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, 14: 351.

Type Locality: Venezuela, Mérida State, Mérida.

Vernacular Names: Merida Oryzomys.

Distribution: Sierra de Mérida, W Venezuela.

Discussion: Reallocated as a subspecies of O. albigularis by Cabrera (1961), but extensive chromosomal rearrangements suggest specific status (Aguilera et al., 1995). Karyotypic and morphometric differentiation from Venzuelan populations identified as O. caracolus assessed by Aguilera et al. (1995) and Márquez et al. (2000); also see remarks under the latter. Nongeographic variation in crania and dentitions evaluated (as O. albigularis) by Rivas and Pefaur (1999 b).