750.

Olrog’s Chaco Mouse

Andalgalomys olrogi

French: Phyllotis d'Olrog / German: Olrog-Chacomaus / Spanish: Raton del Chaco de Olrog

Other common names: Olrog’s Pericote

Taxonomy. Andalgalomys olrogi Williams & Mares, 1978, west bank of Rio Amanao, 15 km (on route 62) W Andalgala, Catamarca, Argentina .

Andalgalomys olrogi is the type species of the genus. Andalgalomys roigi is subsumed under A. olrogi, based on karyologycal, molecular, and morphological grounds. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

A.o.olrogiWilliams&Mares,1978—NWArgentina(WCCatamarcaProvince).

A. o. roigi Mares & Braun, 1996 — NW & WC Argentina (E Catamarca, La Rioja, W Santiago del Estero, and San Luis provinces); records from Mendoza Province need confirmation based on voucher material.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 75-113 mm, tail 85-135 mm, ear 17-23 mm, hindfoot 21-25 mm; weight 25-27 g. Dorsum of Olrog’s Chaco Mouse is yellowish brown to light brownish olive, with small whitish subauricular and post-auricular patches; venter and upper surfaces of forefeet and hindfeet are white. Tail terminates in moderate tuft, with hairs extending c¢.5 mm beyond tip. Females have three pairs of mammae, based on one female. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 60, FN = 116.

Habitat. Arid and semiarid habitats associated to Chaco and Monte biomes. Olrog’s Chaco Mouseis found in low thornscrub bordering salt flats and in disturbed Chacoan thornscrub. Type series was trapped in or near stands of creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata, Zygophyllaceae) on fine-textured soils on the floor of the Bolson de Pipanaco, Catamarca.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Male Olrog’s Chaco Mice with scrotal testes and one pregnant female that gave birth to five young were recorded in May.

Activity patterns. Olrog’s Chaco Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Braun (2015), Garcia (2003), Mares & Braun (1996), Ojeda et al. (2001), Pardifias (2016), Williams & Mares (1978).