653.

Apeco Oldfield Mouse

Thomasomys apeco

French: Thomasomys de I'Apeco / German: Apeco-Paramomaus / Spanish: Raton de erial de Apeco

Other common names: Apeco Thomasomys

Taxonomy. Thomasomys apeco Leo & Gardner, 1993, “Valle de Los Chochos, ca. 25 km NE Pataz, 3280 m, Parque Nacional Rio Abiseo, San Martin, Peru.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in the Andes of NC Peru.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 237-238 mm, tail 279-329 mm, ear 27-31 mm, hindfoot 50-59 mm; weight 164-335 g. The Apeco Oldfield Mouse is the largest living species of Thomasomys . Dorsal pelage is bright, long, and dense, varying from raw sienna to ocherous tawny and tawny olive streaked, and with black guard hairs. Venter is ocherous buff. Mystacial vibrissae are very long and extended beyond pinnae. Tail is longer than head-body length, and terminal pencil is absent.

Habitat. Upper montane forests and paramo-like habitats (locally called “jalca”) near forest borders at elevations of 3200-3380 m. Apeco Oldfield Mice have been recorded in logs, on bank above small stream, and on forest floor in isolated patch of elfin forest.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. The Apeco Oldfield Mouse appears to breed in dry season. One female was pregnant in August (dry season) with a single embryo; another female was captured in July with well-developed mammae. Subadult males had well-developed testes in July— August.

Activity patterns. Poorly known, but the Apeco Oldfield Mouse could be terrestrial and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Apeco Oldfield Mouse has a very restricted distribution and is known only from the type locality and surrounding montane forests.

Bibliography. Fabre et al. (2008), Gardner & Romo (1993), Leo & Gardner (1993), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pacheco (2003, 2015b), Pacheco et al. (2009).