634.

Central Andes Oldfield Mouse

Thomasomys contradictus

French: Thomasomys a ventre jaune / German: Zentralanden-Paramomaus / Spanish: Raton de erial de los Andes centrales

Other common names: Central Andes Thomasomys

Taxonomy. Thomasomys cinererventer contradictus Anthony, 1925, Santa Isabel, Quindio, Colombia.

Thomasomys contradictus might represent a species complex, but additional research is needed. Monotypic.

Distribution. C Andes Range of Colombia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 107-133 mm, tail 153 mm, hindfoot 30-34 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Central Andes Oldfield Mouse is large, with mummy brown color along sides changing to fuscous on back, with some blacktipped hair; ears are brown; hands and feet are drab. Venter varies from clay to honey yellow; transition is very gradual to darker on sides. Pelage is quite long, soft, and lax. Mystacial vibrissae are moderately long, extending slightly beyond posterior margin of pinnae when bent. Tail is moderately long (111-138% of head-body length), brown above and below, coarsely annulated, and sparsely haired, without pencil. Hindfoot is long and drab in color above; gap occurs between thenar and hypothenar pads.

Habitat. Habitat in subtropical and tropical moist montane forests at elevations of 2400-3870 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Central Andes Oldfield Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Anthony (1925), Cabrera (1961), Gémez-Laverde & Pacheco (2008a), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pacheco (2003, 2015b).