715.

Andean Gerbil Mouse

Eligmodontia puerulus

French: Eligmodonte des Andes / German: Anden-Hochlandwiistenmaus / Spanish: Ratén colilargo de los Andes

Other common names: Altiplano Laucha

Taxonomy. Hesperomys puerulus Philippi, 1896, near San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta, Chile.

Eligmodontia hirtipes jacunda, currently subsumed under puerulus, deserves attention to distinguishes taxonomically divergent populations from Argentine Puna . In Catamarca Province, Argentina, mitochondrial data suggested hybridization between E. puerulus and E. moreni . Monotypic.

Distribution. NE Chile and NW Argentina; occurrence in SW Bolivia requires confirmation.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 67-95 mm, tail 59-92 mm, ear 21-26 mm, hindfoot 21-26 mm; weight 16-26 g. See general characters of the genus under the Hairy-footed Gerbil Mouse (FE. hutipes) account. The Andean Gerbil Mouse is a medium-sized, short-tailed species of Eligmodontia, with long and lax fur; dorsum is grayish brown to light brown with yellow; distinctly wide, buffy lateral line divides dorsal from venter. Ventral hairs are white to gray to black at their bases but always white at tips. Eyes are outlined by darker line of variable length that begins on posterior margin and is less marked or absent in specimens from some populations. Tail is absolutely and proportionally shortest among species of Eligmodontia, averaging 89-4% of head-body length; color varies from markedly bicolored to almost completely white, although slightly bicolored in most specimens, more pronounced at tip, pale brown above and white below, and terminating in short pencil of hairs. Forefeet and hindfeet are covered dorsally with short, dirty white hair; soles are covered with dense, long white hair. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 31-37, FN = 48.

Habitat. Altiplano habitats typically at elevations above 3500 m. In northern Chile, the Andean Gerbil Mouse is found in “tolares arenosos” (shrub steppes in sandy soils).

Food and Feeding. The Andean Gerbil Mouse is herbivorous.

Breeding. Reproduction of the Andean Gerbil Mouse has been recorded in autumn (March).

Activity patterns. The Andean Gerbil Mouse is terrestrial and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Hershkovitz (1962), Iriarte (2008), Lagos et al. (2012), Lanzone (2009), Lanzone, Braun et al. (2015), Lanzone, Ojeda et al. (2011), Mann (1945), Mares et al. (2008), Ojeda, Pardinas & D'Elia (2016), Osgood (1943a), Philippi (1900), Sierra et al. (2017), Spotorno, Zuleta et al. (1998).