A new species of Phyllotis (Rodentia, Cricetidae, Sigmodontine) from the upper montane forest of the Yungas of northwestern Argentina.

J. P. JAYAT; G. D'ELIA; U. F. J. PARDIÑAS; G. NAMEN

"The Quintessential Naturalist: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Oliver P. Pearson".

University of California Press

Lugar: Davis, California; Año: 2007; p. 775 - 798

We describe a new sigmodontine species of the genus Phyllotis. It was collected near Hualinchay, Tucumán, Argentina. The new species, which is a sister taxon to P. osilae, can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of traits: large size (slightly smaller than P. osilae and P. xanthopygus ); dorsal color dark gray; light ochraceous belly; ears covered internally and externally by obscure brown hairs; manus with digits and distal dorsum covered with white hair, proximal dorsum of the manus and pes darker; tail slightly bicolored and slightly haired, not penicillate; incisors with white to yellowish-white enamel; noticeably hypsodont molars; and several molecular synapomorphies. The new species is an endemic from the alder forests of the upper Yungas. The low number of specimens captured, despite intensive trapping efforts, suggests that it is rare and restricted to this type of forest. Considering the rapid anthropogenic habitat loss in the Yungas, we argue that further intensive biodiversity studies and conservation plans are critical for this region. Phyllotis. It was collected near Hualinchay, Tucumán, Argentina. The new species, which is a sister taxon to P. osilae, can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of traits: large size (slightly smaller than P. osilae and P. xanthopygus ); dorsal color dark gray; light ochraceous belly; ears covered internally and externally by obscure brown hairs; manus with digits and distal dorsum covered with white hair, proximal dorsum of the manus and pes darker; tail slightly bicolored and slightly haired, not penicillate; incisors with white to yellowish-white enamel; noticeably hypsodont molars; and several molecular synapomorphies. The new species is an endemic from the alder forests of the upper Yungas. The low number of specimens captured, despite intensive trapping efforts, suggests that it is rare and restricted to this type of forest. Considering the rapid anthropogenic habitat loss in the Yungas, we argue that further intensive biodiversity studies and conservation plans are critical for this region.