Dark bolo mouse

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Dark bolo mouse
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Sigmodontinae
Genus: Necromys
Species:
N. obscurus
Binomial name
Necromys obscurus
(Waterhouse, 1837)
Synonyms

Bolomys obscurus
(Waterhouse, 1837)

The dark bolo mouse or dark-furred akodont (Necromys obscurus) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. [2] There are two subspecies; one (ssp. scagliarum) is found in eastern and central parts of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, and the other (ssp. obscurus) in coastal areas of southern Uruguay. [3]

Contents

Description

The dark bolo mouse is the largest species in the genus, with a head-and-body length of about 110 mm (4.3 in) and a tail length of 75 mm (3.0 in). The fur is fairly long and glossy. The dorsal surface is dark brown to brownish-black, the individual hairs having black bases and tips and pale central portions, giving the pelage an "agouti" appearance. The cheeks and flanks are tinged with orange or buff and the underparts are greyish, the hairs having yellowish tips. The tail is deep brown above and grey underneath, and the upper surfaces of the hands are dark, with dark fur mixed with some buff hairs on the feet. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The dark bolo mouse is found in two separate locations; the coastal region of southern Uruguay, and the inland and coastal regions of eastern Buenos Aires Province in Argentina. The fossil record shows that at one time it had a wider distribution in Argentina. Its habitat includes grassland and the verges of cultivated fields, moist areas near streams, and rocky areas in hilly country. [3]

Ecology

The dark bolo mouse is mainly diurnal and normally lives on the ground surface although it sometimes undertakes some burrowing activity. It is an omnivore and feeds on small invertebrates such as crickets and beetles, as well as plant material. [3]

Status

The dark bolo mouse has a fragmented area of distribution. It is fairly common where it does occur, but seems not to tolerate disturbance to the meadows areas where it lives. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "near threatened". [1]

Related Research Articles

The white-tailed rat also known as the white-tailed mouse, is the only member of the subfamily Mystromyinae in the family Nesomyidae. This species is sometimes placed in the subfamily Cricetinae due to similarities in appearance between the white-tailed rat and hamsters, but molecular phylogenetic studies have confirmed that the two groups are not closely related. The subfamily Mystromyinae is sometimes placed within the family Muridae along with all other subfamilies of muroids.

<i>Necromys</i> Genus of rodents

Necromys is a genus of South American sigmodontine rodents allied to Akodon. This genus has also been known as Cabreramys or more recently Bolomys, and the northern grass mouse has recently been transferred from Akodon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hairy-tailed bolo mouse</span> Species of rodent

The hairy-tailed bolo mouse or hairy-tailed akodont is a South American rodent species of the family Cricetidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.

The cerrado mouse is a rodent species from South America. It is found in the cerrado of Brazil.

The hairy-eared cerrado mouse or hairy-eared akodont, is a rodent species from South America. It is found in the cerrado grassland of Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kemp's grass mouse</span> Species of rodent

Kemp's grass mouse is a species of South American rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is the only species in the genus Deltamys. It was formerly considered a member of the genus Akodon, but is now considered sufficiently distinct to warrant its own genus. It is named for Robin Kemp, who collected specimens of mice from the area for the British Museum.

The northern grass mouse, or northern akodont, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.

The pleasant bolo mouse, or pleasant akodont, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found on grassland at high altitudes in Bolivia and Peru.

The rufous-bellied bolo mouse or white-chinned akodont, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia where it inhabits the dry valleys of the eastern Andes. Its conservation status is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being of "least concern".

The spotted bolo mouse or Ecuadorian akodont is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is known from Ecuador and may also occur in Colombia. Little is known of its status and range.

The Ganzu vole, Eva's red-backed vole, Eva's vole, Gansu vole, or Taozhou vole is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in mountain forests in China. The IUCN has assessed it as being of "least concern".

Lemniscomys linulus, commonly known as the Senegal grass mouse or Senegal one-striped grass mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, and Senegal and its natural habitat is dry savanna. At one time considered to be a subspecies of Lemniscomys griselda, it is now accepted as a species in its own right.

The southern climbing mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia in forested valleys and on slopes on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains.

The golden Oldfield mouse or golden thomasomys is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Both the common and genus name commemorate the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas who worked at the Natural History Museum, London and studied South American rodents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little desert pocket mouse</span> Species of rodent

The little desert pocket mouse is a species of small rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to Baja California in Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain degu</span> Species of rodent

The mountain degu is a species of rodent in the family Octodontidae. It is the only species in the genus Octodontomys. It is found in the foothills of the Andes in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.

The San Joaquin pocket mouse or Salinas pocket mouse is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to California in the United States where it lives in desert and semi-desert habitats.

The Huanchaca mouse or Huanchaca akodont is a rodent species in the family Cricetidae. It is known from savannas in an area at an elevation of 700 metres (2,300 ft) in Serrania Huanchaca, Noel Kempff Mercado National Park in eastern Bolivia.

The Paraguayan bolo mouse or Paraguayan akodont is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. According to the IUCN, it is present in Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru, and possibly also in Argentina and Brazil. It is found at elevations from 300 to 2,030 m in a variety of habitats, including cerrado, chaco, and heath pampas.

References

  1. 1 2 Roach, N.; Naylor, L. (2019). "Necromys obscurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T2860A22329469. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T2860A22329469.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1130. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Patton, James L. (2015). Mammals of South America, Volume 2: Rodents. University of Chicago Press. pp. 243–244. ISBN   978-0-226-16957-6.
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