549.

Lillo’s Akodont

Necromys lilloi

French: Akodon de Lillo / German: Lillo-Graslandmaus / Spanish: Raton cavador de Lillo

Taxonomy. Necromys lilloi Jayat et al., 2016, Finca Los Chorrillos, 1388 m, Burruyacu, Tucuman, Argentina.

Necromys lilloi was recently described based mostly on molecular evidence. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in NW Argentina .

Descriptive notes. Head-body 171-189 mm, tail 70-77 mm, ear 15-17 mm, hindfoot 24-26 mm; weight 29-44 g. See general characters of the genus under the Ecuadorean Akodont (N. punctulatus) account. Lillo’s Akodont is a medium-sized species of Necromys . Dorsum is dark chestnut brown, with individual hairs plumbeous at bases and yellowish at tips; guard hairs are mostly black but tipped yellowish. Venter is lighter than dorsum. Ears are small and rounded, with similar brown color as on sides and cheeks; white spots occur on cheeks. Eyes have yellowish rings. Tail is bicolored, dark brown above and grayish white below. Fur on manus and pes is lighter than dorsal color and covered dorsally with short grayish white hair.

Habitat. Grassland habitats associated with Chaco Serrano woodland and shrubland biome.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Lillo’s Akodont is apparently nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The [UCN Red List.

Bibliography. Jayat, D'Elia et al. (2016).