Kunsia Hershkovitz 1966

Kunsia Hershkovitz 1966, Z. Saugetierk., 31 (2): 112.

Type Species: Mus tomentosus Lichtenstein 1830

Species and subspecies: 2 species:

Species Kunsia fronto (Winge 1887)

Species Kunsia tomentosus (Lichtenstein 1830)

Discussion: Akodontini. Species formerly included in Scapteromys until set apart in Kunsia by Hershkovitz (1966 c), who arranged both genera in the "scapteromyine group," which he viewed as closely related to oxymycterines. Formal tribal segregation of the two genera, later including Bibimys, advanced by Massoia (1979 b) and Reig (1980, 1981). Although the probable sister genus of Scapteromys, parsimony and likelihood analyses of cytochrome b data represent the two as nested within the akodontine radiation and distantly related to Bibimys (D’Elía et al., 2003; Smith and Patton, 1999). D’Elía (2003) identified the pair Kunsia Scapteromys as one of five major clades within Akodontini. Karyology summarized by Gardner and Patton (1976). Confirmation of species limits, junior synonyms, and geographic ranges overdue.