Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s.) 24(3): 137-178 (2008) DISTRIBUCIÓN DE ROEDORES SIGMODONTINOS (RODENTIA: CRICETIDAE) EN PASTIZALES DE NEBLINA DEL NOROESTE DE ARGENTINA J. Pablo JAYAT1, Pablo E. ORTIZ 2 y M. Daniela MIOTTI1 1 Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecológicas de las Yungas (LIEY), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, UNT, CC 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán, ARGENTINA, E-mail:
[email protected]. 2 Cátedra de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, UNT, Miguel Lillo 205, 4000 San Miguel de Tucumán, ARGENTINA. ABSTRACT Distribution of sigmodontine rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in the cloud highland grasslands of Northwestern Argentina. The sigmodontine rodents community of cloud highland grasslands of Northwestern Argentina is reported based on records obtained by trapping, analyses of owl pellets, study of museum specimens and literature. We recorded 34 species for this environment in Argentina, which is dominated by the Tribes Akodontini and Phyllotini. The Tribes Abrothrichini, Oryzomyini and Reithrodontini are poorly represented and two incertae sedis species complete this assemblage. Only Necromys lactens and Phyllotis osilae are characteristic elements of this environment and their ecotonal areas. Akodon boliviensis, A. lutescens, A. simulator, A. spegazzinii, A. sylvanus, Necromys lasiurus, Oxymycterus paramensis, Oligoryzomys sp., Oligoryzomys cf. O. flavescens, Calomys fecundus, C. lepidus, C. musculinus, Andinomys edax and Neotomys ebriosus present at least one record in pure cloud highland grasslands. Necromys amoenus, Graomys edithae, G. griseoflavus, Phyllotis caprinus and Tapecomys wolffsohni are found only in the ecotone with high Andean environments. Abrothrix illuteus, Akodon aliquantulus, A. budini, A. fumeus, Necromys sp., Oxymycterus sp. and Phyllotis anitae were recorded only in the ecotone with Chaco and Yungas forest at lower altitude.