The rodent subfamily Sigmodontinae includes New World rats and mice, with at least 376 species. Many authorities include the Neotominae and Tylomyinae as part of a larger definition of Sigmodontinae. When those genera are included, the species count numbers at least 508. Their distribution includes much of the New World, but the genera are predominantly South American, such as brucies. They invaded South America from Central America as part of the Great American Interchange near the end of the Miocene, about 5 million years ago. Sigmodontines proceeded to diversify explosively in the formerly isolated continent. They inhabit many of the same ecological niches that the Murinae occupy in the Old World.
The genus Eligmodontia consists of five or six species of South American sigmodontine mice restricted to Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Species of Eligmodontia occur along the eastern side of the Andes Mountains, in Patagonia, and in the Chaco thorn forest of South America. They can be found in arid and semiarid habitats and in both high and low elevation areas. These rodents are commonly known as gerbil mice or by their local name lauchas. Sometimes they are also called silky desert mice, highland desert mice or silky-footed mice. The closest living relatives are probably the chaco mice (Andalgalomys), the leaf-eared mice, and Salinomys.
The gray leaf-eared mouse is a rodent species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay; its habitat includes the Gran Chaco.
Auliscomys is a genus of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It contains the following species:
The pale leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.
Edith's leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodentin the family Cricetidae. It is known only from Argentina, where it was found in a montane grassland on Otro Cerro at an elevation of 3000 m.
The friendly leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Peru.
Phyllotis is a genus of rodent in the family Cricetidae. These mice are commonly confused with Auliscomys, Graomys and Loxodontomys.. In order to tell these genera apart, one must look at the tail. Species in the genus Phyllotis have a penicillate tip on their tail which is not present in the other two genera. Tails in the genus Phyllotis are also less than the length of its head and body combined whereas in Graomys, tails are longer than the head and body combined. Phyllotis xanthopygus was found at the summit of Volcán Llullaillaco, which is the highest altitude a mammal has yet been found in nature.
The Buenos Aires leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Argentina.
The capricorn leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.
Darwin's leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
The definitive leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in west central Peru, in rocky and shrub-covered areas at elevations between 2600 and 3000 m.
The gerbil leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Peru.
Osgood's leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in the Altiplano of northeastern Chile. The species is named after American zoologist Wilfred Hudson Osgood.
The yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse, otherwise known as the Patagonian leaf-eared mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae and order Rodentia. It is the most widespread member of the genus.
The central leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is known only from central Argentina. Prior to 1994, it was considered a subspecies of G. griseoflavus. Then referred to as G. centralis, as of 2019 it was referred to as G. chacoensis by the IUCN.
The Lima leaf-eared mouse or Lima pericote is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in a variety of habitats on the western slopes of the Andes from northern Chile to west-central Peru at elevations from sea level to 4000 m.
