353.

Bogota Grass Mouse

Neomicroxus bogotensis

French: Souris-d'alpage de Bogota / German: Bogota-Grasmaus / Spanish: Raton de hierba de Bogota

Other common names: Bogota Akodont

Taxonomy. Acodon [sic] bogotensis Thomas, 1895, “Plains of Bogota,” Cundinamarca, Colombia.

Populations of N. bogotensis in Cordillera de Mérida have been noted as potentially differentiated by isolation. Monotypic.

Distribution. E Andes Range of NE Colombia and Tama Massif and Cordillera de Mérida in SW Venezuela.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 78-90 mm, tail 62-75 mm, ear 13-20 mm, hindfoot 19-22 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Bogota Grass Mouse is a small akodont-like sigmodontine, with dorsal fur grizzled to blackish brown,slightly more grayish underneath. Forefeet and hindfeet are dark brown above, with short grayish ungual tufts not surpassing claws. Tail is short, 60-70% of head-body length, and indistinctly bicolored, dark above and paler below by presence of brownish and silvery hairs. Mystacial vibrissae are short and do not extend beyond pinna when laid back.

Habitat. High-elevation evergreen montane forest and shrubby upland meadows at elevations of 2600-3900 m. The Bogota Grass Mouse is commonly found in Polylepis (Rosaceae) forest and among moss-covered rocks.

Food and Feeding. The Bogota Grass Mouse is omnivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Bogota Grass Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Alvarado-Serrano & D’Elia (2013, 2015), Cassola (2016¢), Linares (1998), Soriano et al. (1999), Thomas (1895a), Ventura et al. (2000), Voss & Linzey (1981).