Phyllotis definitus, Osgood, 1915

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 525-526

732.

Ancash Leaf-eared Mouse

Phyllotis definitus

French: Phyllotis de IAncash / German: Ancash-Blattohrmaus / Spanish: Raton orejudo de Ancash

Other common names: Ancash Pericote, Definitive Leaf-eared Mouse

Taxonomy. Phyllotis definitus Osgood, 1915 , “Macate, 50 miles [= 80 km] north-east of Chimbote, [Ancash,] Peru.” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Andes of C Peru.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 122-5 mm, tail 101-136 mm, ear 22-25 mm, hindfoot 28-31 mm; weight 50-89 g. Dorsum of the Ancash Leaf-eared Mouse is cinnamon brown, mixed liberally with dusky hues; rump is slightly paler than back and shoulders; and nape tends toward grayish. Venter is buffy ocherous, paler and more whitish on throat and inguinal area. Chin is whitish and contrasts zygomatic side of rostrum. Pectoral streak is well-defined. Auricular patches are present behind pinnae. Forefeet and hindfeet are white, with proximal part of pes more or less ocherous. Tail is short, equal to or less than head-body length and bicolored, dark above and gray below. Skull is large for a species of Phyllotis (average condylo-incisive length 29-7 mm); nasal is broad; zygomatic arch is robust; interorbital region is very narrow; mesopterygoid fossae are narrow, with pterygoid processes convergent; and tooth row is very large (average 5-6). Chromosomal complement is 2n = 54, FN = 72 in individuals from Ancash Department.

Habitat. Brushy zones, dry shrublands, and rocky areas on western Andean slopes at elevations of 2600-3000 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Ancash Leaf-eared Mouse occurs in less than 5000 km?.

Bibliography. Eisenberg & Redford (1999), Hershkovitz (1962), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pacheco (2002), Pearson (1958, 1972), Steppan & Ramirez (2015), Zeballos & Vivar (2008c).

Figures

725. Haggard’s Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis haggardi), 726. Andean Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis andium), 727. Peruvian Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis gerbillus), 728. Friendly Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis amicus), 729. Narrow-nasal Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis stenops), 730. Pearson’s Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis pearson), 731. Western Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis occidens), 732. Ancash Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis definitus), 733. Lima Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis limatus), 734. Master Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis magister), 735. Yellow-rumped Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis xanthopygus), 736. Osgood’s Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis osgoodi), 737. Bunch Grass Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis osilae), 738. Capricorn Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis caprinus), 739. Tucuman Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis tucumanus), 740. Walnut Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis nogalaris), 741. Darwin’s Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis darwinii), 742. Los Alisos Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis alisosiensis), 743. Anita’s Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis anitae), 744. Bonarian Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis bonariensis), 745. Wolffsohn’s Leaf-eared Mouse 1 (apecomys wolffsohni), 746. Tapecua Leaf-eared Mouse (Tapecomys primus), 747. Southern Big-eared Mouse (Loxodontomys micropus), 748. Delicate Salt Flat Mouse (Salinomys delicatus), 749. Pearson’s Chaco Mouse (Andalgalomys pearsoni), 750. Olrog’s Chaco Mouse (Andalgalomys olrogi), 751. Garlepp’s Mouse (Galenomys garleppii), 752. Painted Big-eared Mouse (Auliscomys pictus), 753. Bolivian Big-eared Mouse (Auliscomys boliviensis), 754. Andean Big-eared Mouse (Auliscomys sublimis), 755. Sumichrast’s Vesper Rat (Nyctomys sumichrasti), 756. Yucatan Vesper Rat (Otonyctomys hatti), 757. Big-eared Climbing Rat (Ototylomys phyllotis), 758. La Pera Climbing Rat (Ototylomys chiapensis), 759. Peters’s Climbing Rat (Tylomys nudicaudus), 760. Chiapan Climbing Rat (Tylomys bullaris), 761. Tumbala Climbing Rat 1 (ylomys tumbalensis), 762. Watson’s Climbing Rat (Tylomys watsoni), 763. Fulvous-bellied Climbing Rat (Tylomys fulviventer), 764. Panama Climbing Rat (Tylomys panamensis), 765. Mira Climbing Rat (Tylomys mirae)

Distribution. Andes of C Peru.