643.

Pichincha Oldfield Mouse

Thomasomys vulcani

French: Thomasomys du Pichincha / German: Pichincha-Paramomaus / Spanish: Raton de erial de Pichincha

Other common names: Pichincha Thomasomys

Taxonomy. Aepeomys vulcani Thomas, 1898, “Mount Pichincha [= Pichincha Volcano], [Pichincha Province], Ecuador, at about 12,000 feet [= 3658 m].” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. NC Andes of Ecuador (Pichincha and Carchi provinces).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 116-126 mm, tail 115-135 mm, hindfoot 26— 32 mm, ear 16-22 mm; weight 32-57 g. Dorsum of the Pichincha Oldfield Mouse is dark gray-brown; venter is gray, with dark yellow tone that contrasts dorsum. Short vibrissae do not surpass ears when they are inclined backward. Legs are pale white at top and bottom. Tail is short, uniform dark, with small light gray hair; tail is firmly attached to tail bone with ligaments that make it very difficult to detach at the time of preparation. Body odor resembles that of a skunk.

Habitat. Paramo and subtropical and temperate forests at elevations of 1400-4500 m. In northern Ecuador, one Pichincha Oldfield Mouse was recorded in ecotone and another in interior of a Polylepis (Rosaceae) forest.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Pichincha Oldfield Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Some individuals have been caught on rocky wooded slopes where they have burrows of 2:5.7-6 cm underground in soil and debris.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Brito & Arguero (2016), Brito, Teska & Ojala-Barbour (2015), Cabrera (1961), Gyldenstolpe (1932a), Lee et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (1993), Pacheco (2003, 2015b), Pacheco, Tirira & Boada (2008d), Pozo et al. (2006), Stone (1914), Thomas (1898d), Tirira (2007), Voss (2003).