Eligmodontia morgani J. A. Allen 1901

Eligmodontia morgani J. A. Allen 1901, Bull. Am. Mus . Nat. Hist., 14: 409.

Type Locality: Argentina, Santa Cruz Prov., basaltic canyons 50 mi (80 km) SE Lago Buenos Aires.

Vernacular Names: Western Patagonian Laucha.

Distribution: W Patagonian region of S Argentina (C Neuquén and SC Río Negro Provs. south to NW Santa Cruz; see Hillard et al., 1997:Fig. 2) and adjacent Chile.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: This species epithet was used by Kelt et al. (1991) for the 2n = 32 chromosomal form as compared with 2n = 44 in E. typus proper; the same contrast holds for other populations in sympatry or parapatry in SC Argentina (Tiranti, 1997; Zambelli et al., 1992). Multivariate analysis of craniodental variables underscores the strong morphological divergence of specimens with known karyotype and cytochrome b haplotype (Hillard et al., 1997; Sikes et al., 1997). Historical biogeography with regard to E. typus discussed by Hillard et al. (1997), who elaborated upon the complementarity of their present-day distributions to biotic provinces within Patagonia.