562.

Silent Grass Mouse

Akodon surdus

French: Akodon sourd / German: Cusco-Graslandmaus / Spanish: Raton campestre silencioso

Other common names: Slate-bellied Akodont

Taxonomy. Akodon surdus Thomas, 1917, “[Hacienda] Huadquina, 5000 ft [= 1524 m |,” southern margin of the Urubamba River, Santa Teresa, Cusco, Peru.

Taxonomy of A. surdus is poorly resolved; differentiation from A. aerosus deserves inspection. Monotypic.

Distribution. Machu Picchu area in Cusco Department, SE Peru.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 110 mm, tail 80 mm, hindfoot 22-5 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Silent Grass Mouse is a moderately small species of Akodon . Fur is coarse; dorsum is dark olivaceous gray, slightly contrasting grayish venter; ears are moderatly long; forefeet and hindfeet are grayish brown above but blackish on soles; and tail is relatively long and slightly paler below.

Habitat. Restricted to very wet mid-montane forests on steep slopes of the Urubamba Valley at elevations of 600-2000 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red Last.

Bibliography. Pardinas, Teta, Alvarado-Serrano et al. (2015), Thomas (1917d, 1920d), Smith & Patton (2007), Zeballos & Vivar (2008b).