589.

Polop’s Grass Mouse

Akodon polopi

French: Akodon de Polop / German: Polop-Graslandmaus / Spanish: Raton campestre de Polop

Other common names: Polop’s Akodont

Taxonomy. Akodon polopi Jayat et al., 2010, 6 km E (by highway 34) from antena repetidora La Posta, 2200 m, Pampa de Achala, Cordoba, Argentina.

Akodon viridescens is considered a junior synonym of A. polopi . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known from a few localities in Cordoba and San Luis provinces, NC Argentina .

Descriptive notes. Head-body 79-103 mm, tail 54-83 mm, ear 13-16 mm, hindfoot 20-25 mm; weight 22-5-48 g (mean 29 g). Polop’s Grass Mouse is a mediumsized species of Akodon . Dorsum is buffy brown,lightly spattered with black hairs; venter is buffy or tawny, with tinged hairs; chin has small white patch; and tail is bicolored, blackish brown above and whitish below.

Habitat. Tall grasses in hilly environments at elevations of 1300-2250 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Polop’s Grass Mouse Mouse is reproductively active in late spring and summer, greatest number of pregnancies occurs in November-December. Females carry an average 4-7 embryos (range 3-7). Shedding occurs in autumn and winter.

Activity patterns. Polop’s Grass Mouse Mouse is terrestrial and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Braun et al. (2010), D’Elia et al. (2011), Jayat et al. (2010), Kufner et al. (2004), Pardinas, Teta, Alvarado-Serrano et al. (2015), Pinna-Senn et al. (1992), Polop (1989, 1991), Priotto et al. (1996).