658.

Ashaninka Oldfield Mouse

Thomasomys onkiro

French: Thomasomys de Luna / German: Ashaninka-Paramomaus / Spanish: Raton de erial de los Ashaninkas

Other common names: Ashaninka Thomasomys

Taxonomy. 7 Thomasomys onkiro Luna & Pacheco, 2002, Vilcabamba Cordillera, between the Ene and Urubamba rivers, Satipo, Junin, Peru.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in S Peru. Ecuadorean records from Tapichalaca Biological Reserve need confirmation.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 94-114 mm, tail 144-159 mm, ear 19-20 mm, hindfoot 26-28 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Fur of the Ashaninka Oldfield Mouse is soft, dense, and comparatively long. Dorsum is buffy brown and not countershaded with ventral pelage, which is buffy yellow. Mystacial vibrissae are moderately long, extending slightly beyond posterior margin of pinnae when bent. Tail is much longer than head-body length (131-153%) and unicolored with terminal white tip. Hindfoot is moderately long and narrow; dorsal surface is a mixture of dark brown and whitish hairs to bases of digits, uniformly silvery white. Ears are small, outer and inner edges covered with short, dark-brown hair. Hallux is moderate long.

Habitat. Elfin forest patches dominated by Polylepis (Rosaceae), Weinmannia (Cunoniaceae), and Chusquea bamboos ( Poaceae) in places with deep moss.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Ashaninka Oldfield Mouse is probably terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Ashaninka Oldfield Mouse is known from only a single location, and although it occurs in a protected area (Otishi National Park), the surrounding region is rapidly being converted to human use.

Bibliography. Emmons et al. (2001), Luna & Pacheco (2002), Moreno & Albuja (2012), Pacheco (2015b), Pacheco & Vargas (2008e), Pacheco et al. (2009), Quintana (2011).