Taxonomy of Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina: The occurrence of the "mendocinus" lineage

TAMMONE, MAURO N.; PARDIÑAS, ULYSES F.J.

MAMMALIA

WALTER DE GRUYTER & CO

Año: 2021 vol. 85 p. 482 - 486

0025-1461

Subterranean rodents Ctenomys are iconic representatives of the mammalian fauna from southern South America. Based on molecular data, eight lineages have been identified within the genus, although species-level identifications and relationships are still debated. Until now, the "magellanicus"clade has been the only lineage mentioned from arid, extra-Andean portions of Patagonia. Here, we report the presence of a Ctenomys population from northern Patagonia that is unambiguously associated with the Central Argentinean "mendocinus"lineage. Most of the 160,000 km2 comprising the northern portion of Patagonia-an area consisting primarily of Monte Desert shrub-land-are inhabited by Ctenomys populations of unknown taxonomy.