A reappraisal of the species richness of Euneomys Coues, 1874 (Rodentia, Cricetidae), with emendations of the type localities of Reithrodon fossor Thomas, 1899 and Euneomys mordax Thomas, 1912

TETA P; D´ELÍA G; C. LANZONE; A. OJEDA; A. NOVILLO; OJEDA R.

MAMMALIA

WALTER DE GRUYTER & CO

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2021

0025-1461

The genus Euneomys Coues, 1874 is mostly distributed in the open environments of the central and southern Andes, adjacent Patagonian steppes of Argentina and Chile, and in several islands of the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago. This genus includes three living species: E. chinchilloides (Waterhouse, 1839), E. fossor (Thomas, 1899), and E. mordax Thomas, 1912. Euneomys fossor is a poorly known species, with an uncertain geographic provenance and known from a single specimen, whose distinction from the other species of the genus has not been accurately assessed Here, using qualitative and quantitative morphological evidence, plus published information about karyotypes and genetic variation, we evaluate the taxonomic status of E. fossor and E. noei Mann, 1944, a nominal form usually considered a synonym of E. mordax. Based on multivariate analysis of cranial measurements and morphological discrete traits, we recognize two main morphotypes within Euneomys, one referable to E. chinchilloides (with dabbenei Thomas, 1919; petersoni J. A. Allen, 1903; and ultimus Thomas, 1916 as synonyms), and another including E. fossor, E. mordax, and E. noei. The recognition of two major groups within Euneomys is also supported by molecular and chromosomal data. By the principle of the priority, the names of E. chinchilloides and E. fossor applies for each one of these morphotypes. In addition, after discussing the pros and cons of replacing the name mordax by fossor, we emended the type localities of both forms.