47.

Black-backed Tuco-tuco

Ctenomys dorsalis

French: Tuco-tuco a dos noir / German: Streifenkammratte / Spanish: Tuco tuco de dorso negro

Other common names: Chacoan Tuco-tuco

Taxonomy. Ctenomys dorsalis Thomas, 1900,

“Northern Chaco of Paraguay.”

Geographical distribution of C. dorsalis is ambiguous, mainly because there is only one specimen known, and the specific type locality is uncertain. It is not classified in any species group. Karyotype and sperm form are unknown. Monotypic.

Distribution. Not known, but presumably NW Paraguay and perhaps adjacent Bolivia and Brazil.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 156 mm, tail 46 mm, hindfoot 30 mm, all measurements from the holotype (a female). No specific data are available for body weight. The Black-backed Tuco-tuco is small. Fur is soft and fine. Dorsum is buffy fawn, with marbled black dorsal line extending from nose to rump and well-defined line on head, c.10 mm wide, but appearing as more diffuse band on back. Dark markings around eyes or ears are missing, but well-marked light collar is present behind cheeks and chin, extending to each side of ears. Throat, chest, outer edges of venter, and narrow midline stripe are pale buff, with gray basal hairs. Remaining ventral hairs are white; tail shows mixed black and white hairs. Incisors are orange above and below, and other craniodental characteristics have not been described.

Habitat. There is no information available for this species.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Bidau (2015).