A New Species of Arboreal Rat, Genus Oecomys (Rodentia, Cricetidae) from Chaco
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Journal of Mammalogy, 97(4):1177–1196, 2016 DOI:10.1093/jmammal/gyw070 Published online May 5, 2016 Version of Record, first published online May 05, 2016, with fixed content and layout in compliance with Art. 8.1.3.2 ICZN. A new species of arboreal rat, genus Oecomys (Rodentia, Cricetidae) from Chaco ULYSES F. J. PARDIÑAS,* PABLO TETA, JORGE SALAZAR-BRAVO, PHIL MYERS, AND CARLOS A. GALLIARI Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral (IDEAus-CONICET), Casilla de Correo 128, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina (UFJP) División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470, Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-abstract/97/4/1177/1753501 by guest on 29 October 2019 C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina (PT) Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main st., Lubbock, TX 79409-3131, USA (JS-B) Museum of Zoology, 1109 Geddes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA (PM) Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE), Calle 120 entre 61 y 62, 1900 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (CAG) * Correspondent: [email protected] A new species of rodent is added to the highly diverse genus Oecomys (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae, Oryzomyini) based on specimens collected in the Argentinian provinces of Chaco and Formosa. The new species is characterized by a derived carotid circulatory pattern, a feature shared with O. concolor, O. mamorae, and O. sydandersoni. A unique combination of morphological, morphometric, and molecular characters, however, provides unambiguous evidence of its validity as a separate entity. Individuals of the new species are larger than other representatives of Oecomys, and their skulls have wide and cuneate interorbital regions with well-developed supraorbital shelves, long incisive foramina, long palates, absent alisphenoid struts, and broad Eustachian tubes. This new Oecomys appears to be endemic to the Humid Chaco, an ecoregion listed as Vulnerable due to the human impact. Preliminary observations suggest that several specimens from Eastern Paraguay and the Brazilian Pantanal could also be assigned to the new species described herein. Una nueva especie es adicionada al altamente diverso género de roedores Oecomys (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae, Oryzomyini), sobre la base de especímenes coleccionados en las provincias Argentinas de Chaco y Formosa. La nueva especie se caracteriza por un patrón de circulación carotídea derivado, un rasgo compartido con O. concolor, O. mamorae y O. sydandersoni. Sin embargo, la combinación única de caracteres morfológicos, morfométricos y moleculares provee evidencia inequívoca sobre su validez como una entidad separada. Individuos de la nueva especie son de mayor tamaño en comparación con otros Oecomys y sus cráneos tienen una región interorbitaria ancha y acuñada con plataformas supraorbitarias bien desarrolladas, forámenes incisivos largos, paladares largos, ausencia de las barras alisfenoideas y tubos de Eustaquio anchos. Este nuevo Oecomys parece ser endémico del Chaco Húmedo, una ecorregión considerada como Vulnerable debido al impacto antrópico. Observaciones preliminares sugieren que varios especímenes de Paraguay Oriental y del Pantanal Brasilero podrían también ser asignados a la nueva especie aquí descrita. Key words: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Oecomys mamorae, Oryzomyini © 2016 American Society of Mammalogists, www.mammalogy.org Mice of the genus Oecomys Thomas, 1906 (Sigmodontinae, diverse genera of the tribe Oryzomyini (Smith and Patton 1999; Oryzomyini) are small- to medium-sized rodents (combined Weksler 2003, 2006; Rosa et al. 2012). Several contributions length of head and body 90–150 mm), moderately arboreal have improved our understanding of the alpha taxonomy of (Hershkovitz 1960), and broadly distributed in lowland forested the genus in the last 15 years (e.g., Patton et al. 2000; Voss areas from Costa Rica southward to southern Bolivia and north- et al. 2001; Andrade and Bonvicino 2003; Carleton et al. 2009; eastern Argentina (Carleton and Musser 2015). Morphological Rocha et al. 2011, 2012; Carleton and Musser 2015), and the and genetic evidence indicate Oecomys to be one of the most limits and content of Oecomys have changed substantially since 1177 1178 JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY its recognition as a subgenus of Oryzomys by Thomas (1906). MATERIALS AND METHODS Based mostly on body size, Hershkovitz (1960) consolidated Specimens studied consisted mainly of skulls, skeletons, fluid- almost 25 nominal forms under 2, Oecomys bicolor (Tomes, preserved bodies, and dry skins obtained from field work and 1860) and Oecomys concolor (Wagner, 1845). Recent compi- systematic collections. Skull fragments recovered from owl lations, however, have recognized at least 16 valid species in pellets were also examined (see Appendix I for a complete Oecomys (Musser and Carleton 2005; Weksler and Percequillo list of specimens). Trapped animals were collected follow- 2011; Carleton and Musser 2015). ing the guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists The knowledge of Oecomys in the southern portion of its (Sikes et al. 2011). Individuals captured were measured and range is growing rapidly. Carleton et al. (2009), in a keystone weighed in the field and prepared as skins, skeletons, or contribution to clarify the systematics of the genus, reviewed fluid-preserved specimens. Vouchers are housed in the fol- Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-abstract/97/4/1177/1753501 by guest on 29 October 2019 in detail the taxa from Yungas and associated habitats in lowing institutions: Colección Elio Massoia (CEM; acquired Bolivia. These authors emended the diagnoses of O. concolor by Fundación Félix de Azara, Buenos Aires, Argentina); and Oecomys mamorae (Thomas, 1906) and added a new Colección de Mamíferos del Centro Nacional Patagónico form from eastern Bolivia, Oecomys sydandersoni Carleton, (CNP; Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina); Colección Nacional Emmons and Musser, 2009. On the east side of the Andes, de Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales recent revisions involved Oecomys catherinae Thomas, 1909 “Bernardino Rivadavia” (MACN; Buenos Aires, Argentina), from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Oecomys cleberi Locks, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ; Berkeley, California), 1981 from the Brazilian Cerrado, and the description of a new University of Connecticut (UCONN; Storrs, Connecticut), and karyological variant from the Brazilian Pantanal (Andrade Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (UMMZ; Ann and Bonvicino 2003; Asfora et al. 2011; Rocha et al. 2011, Arbor, Michigan). The holotype of O. mamorae was studied 2012). through photographs kindly provided by P. Cordeiro Estrela. Massoia and Fornes (1964) first reported Oecomys from Most of the material retrieved from owl pellets is housed in the Argentina based on a single specimen trapped in Chaco Province Colección de Material de Egagrópilas y Afines “Elio Massoia” at approximately 27°S. Following Hershkovitz (1960), they of the Centro Nacional Patagónico (CNP-E; Puerto Madryn, referred the specimen to Oryzomys (Oecomys) concolor, subspe- Chubut, Argentina). The morphology of other Oecomys species cies roberti (Thomas, 1904). Four decades later, the genus was recorded in southern South America was assessed through the again recorded for this country, this time in Formosa Province examination of comparative material housed at the MACN and (Pardiñas and Ramírez-Llorens 2005). These authors worked MVZ mammal collections (see Appendix I) and the literature. with fragmentary material derived from owl pellets and based Nomenclature used to describe the skull and its structures fol- on several morphological differences among Argentinian popu- lows Carleton and Musser (1989), Weksler (2006), and Carleton lations and other Oecomys species, treated them as Oecomys sp. et al. (2009), and that of the molars follows Reig (1977). Four This open nomenclature has generally been used subsequently relative age classes (juvenile, young adult, full adult, and old for Argentinian populations of Oecomys. Owl pellet analyses and adult) were recognized by the degree of molar wear follow- more extensive trapping have provided a better picture of the dis- ing the criteria of Carleton and Musser (1989). Seven external tribution of Oecomys in Argentina (Pardiñas and Teta 2005; Jayat variables, including total length (TL), length of head and body et al. 2006; Teta et al. 2009; Orozco et al. 2014). The taxonomy (HBL), length of tail (T), length of hindfoot with claw (HFL) and of these Chacoan populations remains controversial, however, without claw (HFLw), length of ear (E), and mass (W; in grams), in part due to the scarcity of complete specimens. As was sum- were retrieved or calculated from original labels. Twenty-two marized by Carleton et al. (2009:26), “by geographic proximity cranial measurements were recorded with manual calipers fol- alone, these samples are plausibly referable to O. mamorae, but lowing the criteria of Musser et al. (1998) and Carleton et al. certain measurements reported for the fragmented crania of the (2009): occipitonasal length (ONL); greatest zygomatic breadth Argentine form seem to run larger than O. mamorae proper from (ZB); least interorbital breadth (IOB); length of rostrum (LR); Bolivia… Critical review of variation within nominal O. mamo- breadth of rostrum (BR); length of nasals along midline (LN); rae and comparisons with the Argentine populations are required depth of