579.

Variable Grass Mouse

Akodon varius

French: Akodon variable / German: Variable Graslandmaus / Spanish: Raton campestre variable

Other common names: Variable Akodont

Taxonomy. Akodon varius Thomas, 1902, Cochabamba, 2400 m, Cochabamba, Bolivia.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E Andean slopes in C & S Bolivia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 105-158 mm, tail 80-110 mm, ear 15-17 mm, hindfoot 25-29 mm; weight 18-32 g. The Variable Grass Mouse is medium-sized species of Akodon . Dorsum is medium brown, with dark-tipped underfur and black guard hairs; sides are paler; each eye has distinct pale eye-ring; chin is white or gray; venter and throat region are gray, with white to buffy tips; and dorsal surfaces of forefeet and hindfeet are whitish. Individual rump hairs are 11-13 mm long. Tail is relatively long, bicolored, and densely furred.

Habitat. Inter-Andean valleys to the Chaco at elevations of 365-3200 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 Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Anderson (1997), Braun et al. (2008), Dunnum, Vargas & Bernal (2008d), Myers (1990), Pardinas, Teta, Alvarado-Serrano et al. (2015).