591.

Intelligent Grass Mouse

Akodon iniscatus

French: Akodon de Patagonie / German: Patagonien-Graslandmaus / Spanish: Raton campestre inteligente

Other common names: Patagonian Akodont

Taxonomy. Akodon iniscatus Thomas, 1919, “Valle de Lago Blanco, Koslowsky region, Patagonia.” Restricted by U. F. J. Pardinas and colleagues in 2007 to Estancia Valle Huemules, Rio Senguerr, Chubut, Argentina .

Currently, A. iniscatus includes A. nucus. Although molecular data examined failed to recover nucus in a different clade from typical inuscatus, differential morphological and morphometric features characterize nucus populations, and it probably deserves subspecific recognition. Additional data are needed to clarifiy this. Monotypic.

Distribution. N Patagonia in SC & S Argentina and adjacent extreme E Chile.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 94 mm,tail 59 mm, ear 13 mm, hindfoot 21 mm; weight 22 g (mean values from a series of pooled males and females). The Intelligent Grass Mouse is a small species of Akodon . Dorsum is darkly grizzled olivaceous brown to uniformly brown; venter is gray; white spot is variably present on chin; and tail is short, well-haired, and bicolored.

Habitat. Monte Desert biome and sub-Andean and Patagonian steppe grasslands from sea level to elevations of 900-1000 m.

Food and Feeding. The Intelligent Grass Mouse is omnivorous, tending toward insectivorous.

Breeding. The Intelligent Grass Mouse breeds in October-March; females have 2-4 embryos.

Activity patterns. The Intelligent Grass Mouse is terrestrial and mostly nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Antinuchi & Busch (1999), Barros et al. (1990), Chebez et al. (2014), Pardinas (1999b, 2009), Pardinas & D’'Elia (2016¢), Pardinas & Galliari (1999), Pardinas, Abba et al. (2004), Pardinas, Teta, Alvarado-Serrano et al. (2015), Pardinas, Teta, D'Elia et al. (2007), Smith & Patton (2007), Thomas (1898f), Thomas & St. Leger (1926b), Tiranti (1996b), Udrizar (2009), Udrizar & Pardinas (2006, 2014).