550.

Dark-furred Akodont

Necromys obscurus

French: Akodon obscur / German: Dunkle Graslandmaus / Spanish: Raton cavador de pelaje oscuro

Other common names: Dark Bolo Mouse

Taxonomy. Mus obscurus Waterhouse, 1837, “ Maldonado,” Maldonado, Uruguay.

Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

N.o.obscurusWaterhouse,1837—SUruguay.

N. o. scagliarum Galliari & Pardinas, 2000 — EC Argentina (SE Buenos Aires Province).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 101-126 mm, tail 57-78 mm, ear 14-16 mm, hindfoot 24-26 mm; weight 35-60 g. See general characters of the genus under the Ecuadorean Akodont (N. punctulatus) account. The Dark-furred Akodont is one of the largest and heaviest species of Necromys . Dorsum is dark chestnut brown to blackish brown; individual hairs are blackish at bases and tips and yellowish in the middle, giving general agouti appearance; guards hairs are entirely blackish and long; and sides and cheeks are tinged with orange or buffy. Venteris gray, with hairs having yellowish to orange tips; in some individuals, white spot occurs on the chin. Ears are small and rounded, with dark brown skin covered by short buffy hair; tail is bicolored, dark brown above and grayish below. Manus and pes are dark, but pes is covered dorsally with short buffy hair.

Habitat. Grasslands, cultivated fields, moist areas near lagoons and streams along the coast, and among rocks in low hilly environments.

Food and Feeding. The Dark-furred Akodont eats arthropods and plants.

Breeding. There are records of reproductive activity of Dark-furred Akodonts in spring and winter, and sperm production was most prevalent in November and January.

Activity patterns. The Dark-furred Akodont is diurnal and cursorial, although it has some tendency toward fossoriality.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. D’'Elia, Pardinas, Jayat, Teta & Patterson (2008), Fornes & Massoia (1965), Galliari & Pardinas (2000), Gonzalez & Martinez (2010), Massoia & Fornes (1967), Massoia & Pardinas (1993), Reig (1964, 1965, 1987), Teta, Gonzalez-Fischer et al. (2010).