Akodon aerosus Thomas 1913

Akodon aerosus Thomas 1913, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, 11: 406.

Type Locality: Ecuador, Tungurahua Prov., upper Río Pastaza, Mirador, 1500 m.

Vernacular Names: Yungas Akodont.

Synonyms: Akodon baliolus Osgood 1915 .

Distribution: Upper montane forests along E Andean slopes, 1200-2000 m, in Ecuador, Perú, and C Bolivia (Anderson, 1997; Patton and Smith, 1992).

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Type species of Chalcomys, usually placed as a synonym of the subgenus Akodon (Cabrera, 1961; Reig, 1987). Formerly included as a subspecies of A. urichi by Cabrera (1961), but Gardner and Patton (1976), noting the pronounced difference in diploid number, listed the two as separate species; we include urichi under Necromys (see that account). Probably more than one species yet masquerades under the name of A. aerosus (see Patton and Smith, 1992; Patton et al., 1990); status of surdus as a possible junior synonym needs resolution (see Patton and Smith, 1992). Anderson (1997) recognized baliolus as a valid subspecies for Bolivian populations.