648.

Hudson's Oldfield Mouse

Thomasomys hudsoni

French: Thomasomys de Hudson / German: Hudson-Paramomaus / Spanish: Raton de erial de Hudson

Other common names: Hudson's Thomasomys

Taxonomy. 7 Thomasomys hudsoni Anthony, 1923, “Bestion, Provincia del Azuay, 10,100 feet [= 3078 m], Ecuador.” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from two localities in SW Ecuador.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 80-93 mm, tail 110-120 mm, ear 10-18 mm, hindfoot 17-26 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Hudson's Oldfield Mouse is the smallest species of Thomasomys in Ecuador. Dorsum is grayish brown (between Dresden brown and mummy brown) and darker along dorsal area. Fur is long and soft. Venteris grayish buff and not countershaded relative to dorsum. Mystacial vibrissae are moderately long, extending slightly beyond posterior margin of pinnae when bent. Hindfeet are short, metatarsals are light brown, and gap is present between thenar and hypothenar pads. Tail is long, slender, covered by short hair, uniformly brown, and without terminal white tip.

Habitat. Upper limit of forest with rolling grassy meadows and scrubby trees on ridges and with thickets of brush on slopes (type locality). In Cajas National Park, Hudson's Oldfield Mouse lives in evergreen forest of the paramo at elevations of 3260-4000 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Hudson’s Oldfield Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Anthony (1923), Barnett (1999), Brito & Arguero (2016), Cabrera (1961), Ellerman (1941), Gyldenstolpe (1932a), Musser & Carleton (1993), Pacheco (2003, 2015b), Pacheco, Tirira & Boada (2008a), Voss (2003).