577.

Gray-bellied Grass Mouse

Akodon simulator

French: Akodon du Tucuman / German: Graubauch-Graslandmaus / Spanish: Raton campestre de vientre gris

Other common names: \ White-throated Akodont

Taxonomy. Akodon simulator Thomas, 1916, Villa Nouges, 1200 m, San Pablo, Tucuman, Argentina.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. S Bolivia (Tarja Depart ment) and NW Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Tucuman, Catamarca, and La Rioja provinces).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 93-125 mm, tail 61-91 mm, ear 17-22 mm, hindfoot 23-29 mm; weight 18-5-56 g.

The Gray-bellied Grass Mouse is a moderately large species of Akodon, with high degree of phenotypic variation. General color is brownish gray, suffused on back with yellowish or reddish highlights, and darker or paler depending on individuals and localities; yellowish or reddish highlights on back become more intense posteriorly so that rump is more ocherous tawny; flanks and venter are grayish white or washed buffy, with sharp countershading between dorsum to venter; diffuse white patch occurs on chin, and prominent eye-ring is present; tail is bicolored, dorsally brown or blackish brown and ventrally whitish or buffy; and dorsal surface of hindfeet is covered with whitish hairs.

Habitat. Ecotone between Chaco and Yungas forests and all elevational belts of the Yungas, including highland grasslands, and secondary growth at elevations of 400-3000 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Female Gray-bellied Grass Mice captured in May had open vaginas or were lactating. Males with scrotal testes were recorded in January and May and abdominal testes in May-July. Embryo counts were 5-8. Shedding individuals were caught during July and December.

Activity patterns. The Gray-bellied Grass Mouse is nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Anderson (1997), Barquez et al. (1980), Capllonch et al. (1997), Diaz & Barquez (2007), Diaz et al. (2000), Jayat (2016d), Jayat & Ortiz (2010), Jayat, Ortiz & Miotti (2008), Jayat, Ortiz, Pardinas & D'Elia (2007), Mares et al. (1997), Myers (1990), Pardinas et al. (2006).