583.

Forest Grass Mouse

Akodon sylvanus

French: Akodon sylvestre / German: Wald-Graslandmaus / Spanish: Raton campestre de bosque

Other common names: \ Voodland Akodont

Taxonomy. Akodon sylvanus Thomas, 1921, “Sunchal, 1200 m. ” Restricted by |. P. Jayat and colleagues in 2007 to Sunchal (24°15’S, 64°26’W, 1454 m), Santa Barbara Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina. This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from a few localities in Sierra de Santa Barbara in SE Jujuy Province, NW Argentina .

Descriptive notes. Head—body 83-114 mm, tail 68-89 mm, ear 14-21 mm, hindfoot 22-27 mm; weight 16-35-5 g (mean 26 g). The Forest Grass Mouse is a moderately large species of Akodon . Dorsum is olivaceous brown, finely streaked with black hair; venter and ears are similar to dorsum; eye-ring is either absent or weakly developed; white spotting on chin is barely developed; and tailis slightly bicolored, paler below.

Habitat. Forest and high-elevation grasslands of the Yungas and Chacoan grasslands at elevations of 900-2400 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Reproductive activity of the Forest Grass Mouse was recorded in early spring (late August). Shedding was recorded in June and October.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Diaz & Barquez (2007), Jayat & D'Elia (2016), Jayat & Ortiz (2010), Jayat, Ortiz & Miotti (2008), Jayat, Ortiz, Pardinas & D’Elia (2007), Jayat, Ortiz, Salazar-Bravo et al. (2010), Pardinas, Teta, Alvarado-Serrano et al. (2015).