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Mammalia 72 (2008): 131–134 2008 by Walter de Gruyter • Berlin • New York. DOI 10.1515/MAMM.2008.017

Short Note

Southernmost record for a living

Gabriel M. Martin1,*, Luciano J.M. De Santis2,3 The objectives of the present work were to document and Germa´ n J. Moreira3 a new southernmost locality for the species and to pres- ent an update of the distribution of the species using all 1 CONICET/Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Evolucio´n known collection records. y Biodiversidad (LIEB), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales We recovered a complete skull (Figure 1) and several Sede Esquel, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia, other partial remains (identified by pellet numbers B16, S.J.B. 9200 Esquel, Chubut, Argentina, B28, B78, B90 and B125) from 137 pellets probably gen- e-mail: [email protected] erated by a strigiform at Estancia ‘‘La Primavera’’ 2 Ca´ tedra de Anatomı´a Comparada, Facultad de (488259140 S, 698339410 W), Santa Cruz Province, Argen- Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Calle 64 N8 3 (119 y 120), tina, which account for a minimum number of five indi- 1900 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina viduals (MNIs5) and 13 identified specimens (NISPs13) 3 Comisio´ n de Investigaciones Cientı´ficas (CIC) de la (sensu Lyman 1994). Unfortunately, only one of the speci- provincia de Buenos Aires, Calle 526 (10 y 11), mens (MLP 1.I.03.10) is an adult (with fully erupted den- 1900 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina tition) and therefore comparisons with other materials *Corresponding author were limited. Measurements taken follow Martin (2005) and are: zygomatic breadth, 21.5 mm; palatal length, 18.3 mm; palatal width, 11 mm; least interorbital con- striction (LINOR), 5.2 mm; braincase width, 13.5 mm; Keywords: Didelphimorphia; Lestodelphys halli; breadth between alisphenoid bulla, 4.8 mm; first upper Patagonia; recorded localities. premolar to last upper molar (P1–M4), 11.1 mm; first upper molar to last upper molar (M1–M4), 6 mm; first lower molar to last lower molar, 7.2 mm; third upper 2 are generally widespread throughout most of molar, length 1.9 mm, width 1.3 mm and area 2.47 mm ; the environments present in South and Central America, and third lower molar, length 2.1 mm, width 2.63 mm and 2 with a marked reduction in diversity south of 428 S (Bir- area 2.76 mm . Most of the measurements fall within the ) ney and Monjeau 2003, Brown 2004). At this latitude, range analyzed for a sample of 300 specimens (Martin only four species from three different orders occur: 2005), but M1–M4, LINOR and area of the third lower pallidior (Thomas 1921) and Lestodelphys halli molar are slightly smaller. (Thomas 1921) (Didelphimorphia), Rhyncholestes rapha- An update of the distribution of the species with all nurus Osgood 1924 (Paucituberculata) and Dromiciops known localities (loc.) compiled from the literature is pre- gliroides Thomas 1893 (Microbiotheria). Of these, the sented for both captured specimens and disaggregated didelphids, the slender mouse (T. pallidior) and owl pellets (Figure 2 and Appendix 1). The new finding the Patagonian opossum (L. halli), inhabit the dry and (loc. 59) is located in the Central District of the Patago- cold steppes of Patagonia. nian Phytogeographic Region (sensu Leo´ n et al. 1998), Located at the southern tip of South America east of an area with average annual precipitation of -200 mm the Andes, Patagonia is a region of 786.595 km2, with and vegetation coverage of -50%, comprised mostly of temperate cold weather, very strong winds (predomi- small shrubs and cushion-forming plants (Paruelo et al. nantly from the west) and a mean annual temperature 1998). This locality extends the distribution of the species ranging from 128Cto38C in a NW-SE pattern (del Valle by approximately 150 km south of previous records and 1998, Paruelo et al. 1998). represents the southernmost record for a living marsu- The Patagonian opossum (L. halli) is one of the most pial. This range extension is beyond the home range of poorly known from South America, with a very any strigiform bird that could have generated the depos- low representation in museum collections (Nowak 1999), its known from the previous southernmost locality at Pie- little knowledge of its ecology and distribution and vul- dra Museo, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina (De Santis et nerable status according to IUCN (Cabrera 1957, Mar- al. 1995; see Appendix 1). Home range estimates of great shall 1977, Pearson 1995, Martin 2003, IUCN 2007). The horned owls and barn owls, although seasonally variable, species is endemic to the Patagonian steppe and has do not exceed a radius of 15 km (e.g., Smith et al. 1974, also been recorded, marginally, in the southern Monte Frank and Lutz 1997). ecosystem (Martin 2003). In recent years, several hun- Most of the previously known localities are concen- dred remains have been recovered from owl pellets, rep- trated in western Patagonia (Figure 2). In the north, four resenting nearly 60 sites scattered throughout southern localities are found outside Patagonia (sensu Leo´ n et al. Argentina, from 328 to 488 S (Appendix). 1998) and occur in the Provinces of Mendoza (loc. 18

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132 G.M. Martin et al.: Southernmost record for a marsupial

Figure 1 Remains of Lestodelphys halli extracted from owl pellets at Estancia ‘‘La Primavera’’ (Santa Cruz Province, Argentina). Specimens are deposited in the collection of the Departamento Zoologı´a Vertebrados, Museum of La Plata, Argentina.

Figure 2 Recorded localities for Lestodelphys halli throughout southern Argentina. See Appendix for references. and 20), La Pampa (loc. 17) and Rı´o Negro (loc. 3), per- dra Museo (loc. 8), and with a large quantity of owl pellets haps as relicts of a past range that also included the ()400), no remains from L. halli have been recovered southern portion of Buenos Aires Province until the early (P. Dı´az, personal communication). The species has not Holocene (Goin 1999). In the south, just a few localities been recorded in large areas throughout its known range are concentrated near the border between Chubut and and the central and western portions of Chubut and Santa Cruz Provinces (468 S) and only four localities are Santa Cruz Provinces remain almost unexplored. found in northeastern Santa Cruz, scattered throughout Future work should concentrate on identifying the geo- an area of approximately 23,000 km2. It is interesting to graphic limits of the species, improving samples between note that despite intensive work carried out recently near the known extremes and elucidating the environmental the type locality (Ea. La Madrugada, loc. 1) and near Pie- and physiological factors limiting its distribution. Article in press - uncorrected proof

G.M. Martin et al.: Southernmost record for a marsupial 133

Acknowledgements 22) Ea. El Gauchito (C); Pardin˜ as et al. 2000; 458149 S, 678099 W; * 23) Ea. Calcatreo (RN); Andrade et al. 2002; 418449 S, We thank L. Miotti who allowed us the opportunity to collect the 8 9 studied materials. S. Merritt checked the manuscript for errors 69 22 W; * and language consistency. The first author thanks M. Simeon 24) Sierras de Talagapa (C); Teta and Andrade 2002; and E. Watkins for financial support. 428149/428129 S, 688149/688139 W; * 25) Paso del Sapo N8 1 (C); Pardin˜ as et al. 2003; 428419070 S, 698439220 W; * 26) 8 9 0 Appendix Los Altares (C); Pardin˜ as et al. 2003; 43 53 49 S, 688249170 W; * 27) Ea. Maquinchao (RN); Pardin˜ as et al. 2003; 418429 Recorded localities of Lestodelphys halli as displayed S, 688399 W; * in Figure 1 28) Ea. Pilcan˜ eu (RN); Pardin˜ as et al. 2003; 418489 S, 708419 W; * Information is given as locality number; locality name 29) Paraje Paso de los Molles (RN); Pardin˜ as et al. (province); bibliographic reference; latitude, longitude; 2003; 408559 S, 708439 W; * and registry type. Argentine Province name is indicated 30) Perito Moreno (RN); Pardin˜ as et al. 2003; as: SC, Santa Cruz; C, Chubut; RN, Rı´o Negro; N, Neu- 418039340 S, 718019420 W; * que´ n; M, Mendoza and Ea. Estancia. Registry type: 31) Ea. San Pedro (C); Pardin˜ as et al. 2003; 428049 S, trapped specimen, *recovered from owl pellets. Record 678349 W; * localities that are too close to each other to be depicted 32) Can˜ ado´ n del Tordillo (N); Pardin˜ as et al. 2003; individually on the map are followed by a letter (e.g., 37a, 408249 S, 708109 W; * 37b, 37c, 37d). 33) Caban˜ a Arroyo Pescado (C); Martin 2003; 1) Cabo Tres Puntas, Ea. La Madrugada (type loca- 438049110 S, 708549460 W; * lity) (SC); Thomas 1921; 478069 S, 668299 W; 34) Rı´o Gualjaina/1000 m W crossing of Provincial 2) Ea. Los Manantiales/Languin˜ eo (C); Reig 1959; Roads 25 and 14 (C); Martin 2003; 438019 S, 438189 S, 698509 W; 708479480 W; * 3) Choele Choel (RN); Marshall 1977; 398169 S; 658419 35a) Nahuel Pan (C); Martin 2003; 428599150 S, W; 718109590 W; * 4) Confluencia (N); Massoia 1988; 408309 S, 708329 35b) Boquete Nahuel Pan (C); Martin 2003; 428579560 W; * S, 718099240 W; * 5) Pampa de Nestares (RN); Massoia and Pardin˜as 36a) Arroyo Mayoco N8 1 (C); Martin 2003; 428459060 S, 1988a; 408429 S, 708469 W; * 708529120 W; * 6) Can˜ ado´ n las Coloradas (RN); Massoia and Pardi- 36b) Arroyo Mayoco N8 2 (C); Martin 2003; 428479 S, n˜ as 1988b; 408379 S, 708469 W; * 708499 W; * 7) Cerro Castillo/Paso Flores (RN); Pardin˜ as and 36c) Arroyo Mayoco N8 3 (C); Martin 2003; 428439 S, Massoia 1989; 408339560 S, 708389120 W; * 708509 W; * 8) Piedra Museo (SC); De Santis et al. 1995; 478309 36d) Cueva Watkins/Mayoco (C); Martin 2003; S, 678309 W; * 428459010 S, 708529250 W; * 9) 30 km NW Pampa de Agnia (C); Birney et al. 37) Gualjaina (C); Martin 2003; 428429 S, 708289 W; * 1996a; 43828.789 S, 69849.099 W; 38a) Piedra Parada N8 1 (C); Martin 2003; 428399320 S, 10) Meseta el Pedrero (SC); Birney et al. 1996b; 708069340 W; * 468469370 S, 698389490 W; 38b) Piedra Parada N8 2 (C); Martin 2005; 42840916.80 11) Cerro Leones (RN); Birney et al. 1996b; 418049 S, S, 70805913.40 W; * 718089 W; * 39) Can˜ ado´ n La Buitrera (C); Martin 2003; 428399050 12) Pico Salamanca (C); Birney et al. 1996b; 458309 S, S, 708069110 W; * 678309 W; 40) Camino a Colan Conhue´ (C); Martin 2005; 13) Comallo (RN); Birney et al. 1996b; 418049 S, 708209 43808906.70 S, 70828908.40 W; * W; * 41) 8 9 0 14) 10 km E Clemente Onelli (RN); Birney et al. 1996b; Can˜ ado´ n del Loro (C); Martin 2005; 42 33 38 S, 418109 S, 708109 W; * 698539580 W; * 15) 15 km SE Los Menucos (RN); Birney et al. 1996b; 42) Paso del Sapo N8 2 (C); Martin 2005; 428409540 S, 408559 S, 688059 W; 69839949.20 W; * 16) Tehuel Malal (N); Birney et al. 1996b; 418029 S, 43a) Cerca de Ea. Creto´ n (C); Udrizar Sauthier et al. 718109 W; * 2007; 428419440 S, 708019330 W; * 17) Lihue´ Calel (LP); Birney et al. 1996b; 388029 S, 43b) Ea. Creto´n N8 1 (C); Udrizar Sauthier et al. 2007; 658359 W; 428449380 S, 708039180 W; * 18) Chacras de Coria (M); Birney et al. 1996b; 328459 43c) Ea. Creto´n N8 2 (C); Udrizar Sauthier et al. 2007; S, 698009 W; 428429 S, 708029 W; * 19) Ea. Juquiche (RN); Pardin˜ as 1999; 418209 S, 698339 44) Puesto Machı´n (RN); Udrizar Sauthier et al. 2007; W; * 418409400 S, 698249050 W; * 20) Huayquerı´as del Oeste (M); Pardin˜ as 1999; 328209 45) Can˜ ado´ n Arroyo Quetrequile (RN); Udrizar Sauthier S, 688309 W; * et al. 2007; 418419490 S, 6982491309 W; * 21) Astra 20 km N Comodoro Rivadavia (C); Pardin˜as 46) Can˜ ado´ n del Painemil (RN); Udrizar Sauthier et al. 1999; 458449 S, 678309 W; * 2007; 418449290 S, 698229050 W; * Article in press - uncorrected proof

134 G.M. Martin et al.: Southernmost record for a marsupial

47) 2 km NW Gastre (C); Udrizar Sauthier et al. 2007; Goin, F.J. 1999. Quaternary marsupials from southern South 428149 S, 698129 W; * America. Quaternary South Am. Antarctic Peninsula 9: 137– 48) Campo Netchovitch, Fofo Cahuel (C); Udrizar Sau- 147. thier et al. 2007; 428199420 S, 708339400 W; * IUCN. 2007. Lestodelphys halli. In: 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed Febru- 49) Fofo Cahuel (C); Udrizar Sauthier et al. 2007; ary 19, 2008. 428209270 S, 708289050 W; * Leo´ n, R.J.C., D. Bran, M. Collantes, J.M. Paruelo and A. Soriano. 50) Cerro Gorro Frigio (C); Udrizar Sauthier et al. 2007; 1998. Grandes unidades de vegetacio´ n de la Patagonia extra 438059300 S, 698199230 W; * andina. Ecol. Austral 8: 125–144. 51) Ea. El Torito (C); Udrizar Sauthier et al. 2007; Lyman, R.L. 1994. Relative abundances of skeletal specimens 43816935.90 S, 69808929.50 W; * and taphonomic analysis of vertebrate remains. 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