592.

Merida Montane Mouse

Aepeomys lugens

French: Aepéomys du Mérida / German: Merida-Andenmaus / Spanish: Raton de montana de Mérida

Other common names: Merida Aepeomys, Olive Montane Mouse

Taxonomy. Oryzomys (?) lugens Thomas, 1896, “La Loma del Morro, near Merida [Mérida], Venezuela, alt. 3000 metres.” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Andes of W Venezuela ( Cordillera de Mérida).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 110-119 mm, tail 114-127 mm, ear 18-21 mm, hindfoot 20-30 mm; weight 30-445 g. Males averaged 3-6% heavier than females. The Merida Montane Mouse is a small akodontlike sigmodontine, with lax and velvety fur, dark brown dorsum, and paler venter. Head has slender rostrum, and eyes are minute. Ears are rounded, blackish, and semihidden in fur. Claws are well developed. Tailis slightly longer than head-body length, unicolored, and naked in appearance, with incipient terminal tuft. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 28 and FN = 48.

Habitat. Primary cloud forest, rarely secondary habitats, and paramos at elevations of 1990-3500 m. Microhabitat preferences of the Merida Montane Mouse include logs, bases of trees and tree ferns, boulders covered with moss and lichen, and thick ground cover of herbs and ferns.

Food and Feeding. The Merida Montane Mouse eats arthropods, larvae, and worms.

Breeding. Merida Montane Mice breed year-round but prefer rainy season. Pregnant females have been recorded in September, and lactating females in May—November. Litters usually had two young.

Activity patterns. The Merida Montane Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Aagaard (1982), Aguilera (2016a), Aguilera et al. (2000), Diaz de Pascual (1993), Handley (1976), Linares (1998), Ochoa etal. (2001), Voss et al. (2002).