Yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse

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Yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse
Phyllotis xanthopygus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Sigmodontinae
Genus: Phyllotis
Species:
P. xanthopygus
Binomial name
Phyllotis xanthopygus
(Waterhouse, 1837)

The yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse (Phyllotis xanthopygus), 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.

Contents

Description

Phyllotis xanthopygus is a predominantly greyish brown/sand-colored New World mouse that reaches around 55g in its adulthood. [2] Its thick coat is typically lighter on its underside, most prominent posteriorly, exhibiting countershading that is typical for many small mammals as it aids in camouflage from predators. [2] True to its name, the Patagonian leaf-eared mouse has broad triangular ears similar to other leaf-eared members that compose the genus Phyllotis.

The pelage of Phyllotis xanthopygus is known to differ seasonally. [2] This example of phenotypic plasticity contributes to its ability to camouflage in a dynamic, seasonal, environment. Blending in with the vegetation and rocky outcrops is an important characteristic as their primary predators are raptors [3] most notably owls, which rely on being able to spot their prey from the air. While not explicitly nocturnal, they are most active at night due to the correlation between light intensity, visibility, and predation risk. [3]

The adults of P. xanthopygus are quite large as far as the genus goes with a body mass of fifty-five grams and large ears that are normally around twenty-seven millimeters long. The throat and chin are a pale buff or a light tan with dull grey underfur. These mice boast a long soft fur with yellow brown guard hairs that are sometimes black tipped with grey bases. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Phyllotis xanthopygus occurs in South America, specifically in the Andes mountain range in Peru, Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia from sea level to 5,000 m. [3] While the rocky habitat of the Andes provides ample cover from predators, the high elevation environments are limited in food availability therefore restricting reproduction to the warmer months. [5] The highest elevation the yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse ever was found was at the summit of Volcán Llullaillaco (6739 m) and this is the highest altitude a mammal was ever found in nature. [6] [7]

Its distribution at high altitudes across the Andean plateau [8] has led to plasticity in its non-shivering thermogenesis in order to cope with the low temperatures. This thermal acclimation relies on brown adipose tissue and is often induced by ingestion. [8] This adaptation is important for small mammals like Phyllotis xanthopygus that undergo torpor because it accelerates heating during arousal events.

There is insufficient research concerning small mammalian populations south of Mendoza Argentina [9] due to the large array of species within Rodentia as well as the continuous discovery of new members.

Diet

Phyllotis xanthopygus etc.JPG

Members of Cricetidae are known for variety in their diets, for Phyllotis xanthopygus this range includes herbivory, insectivory, granivory, and frugivory. This variation enables them to be opportunistic feeder: [5] an advantageous trait as it permits quick and unselective foraging in open and vulnerable areas. [3]

Their teeth are specialized to accommodate for the diversity in their diet as they have enlarged incisors which are separated from the cheekteeth by a diastema. The teeth are characterized as aradicular, being that they grow continuously throughout an organism's' lifetime. This results in the incisors resembling a chisel due to rapid wear on the soft dentin at the back of the tooth from rubbing against one another.

One study that was done with these rodents tested how their behaviors changed based on the amount of light that was allowed in their habitat. [10] The researchers found that the habitats with the least amount of light had the most foraging activity with the mice. [10] This behavior correlates to the rodents avoiding predators by foraging in darker areas. [2] [10] These mice rapidly increase their metabolic heat production in cooler climates by having a high metabolic rate and using non shivering thermogenesis which allows them to acclimate to their seasonal climates better. [11] In order to avoid predation these mice have been known to display an escape behavior due to large shadows rather than small raptor shadows. [2] The males have also been shown to go out foraging at an earlier time than the females do. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sigmodontinae</span> Subfamily of rodents

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 big-eared hopping mouse is an extinct species of mouse, which lived in the Moore River area of south-western Australia. The big-eared hopping mouse was a small, rat-sized animal resembling a tiny kangaroo. It had large eyes and ears with a brush-tipped tail. It moved on its four legs when traveling at a slower pace, or by bounding upon its enlarged, padded, hind feet when traveling quickly. They mainly lived in sand dunes and made nests of leaves and other organic materials. The big-eared hopping-mouse was last collected in July 1843 near the Moore River, Western Australia, close to where New Norcia is now situated, and has not been seen since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perognathinae</span> Subfamily of rodents

Perognathinae is a subfamily of rodents consisting of two genera of pocket mice. Most species live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, They feed mostly on seeds and other plant parts, which they carry in their fur-lined cheek pouches to their burrows.

<i>Eligmodontia</i> Genus of rodents

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gray leaf-eared mouse</span> Species of rodent

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large Japanese field mouse</span> Species of rodent

The large Japanese field mouse is a nocturnal species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern big-eared mouse</span> Species of rodent

The southern big-eared mouse, also known as the southern pericote, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Argentina and Chile, and is one of only two species in its genus. The type specimen was captured by Charles Darwin in 1834 along the Santa Cruz River in Argentina, during the voyage of HMS Beagle, and was subsequently described by George Robert Waterhouse.

Abrothrix andina, also known as the Andean Altiplano mouse or Andean akodont, is a species of rodent in the genus Abrothrix of family Cricetidae. It is found in the Altiplano habitat of the Andes from central Peru through Bolivia, south to Argentina and Chile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patagonian chinchilla mouse</span> Species of rodent

The Patagonian chinchilla mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It was first described by George Robert Waterhouse in 1839. It is found in Tierra del Fuego and neighboring areas of southernmost Argentina and Chile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandt's vole</span> Species of rodent

Brandt's vole,, also known as the steppe vole, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is native to shrublands and grasslands in Russia, Mongolia and northern China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big-eared climbing rat</span> Species of rodent

The big-eared climbing rat is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Central America from Mexico to Costa Rica.

<i>Phyllotis</i> Genus of rodents

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darwin's leaf-eared mouse</span> Species of rodent

Darwin's leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.

The gerbil leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Peru.

Anita's leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It was discovered in Tucumán Province in northwestern Argentina in alder forest of the upper part of the Southern Andean Yungas ecoregion, on the eastern slopes of the Andes. The species is terrestrial and nocturnal, and was named after American zoologist Anita K. Pearson. It appears to be most closely related to the bunchgrass leaf-eared mouse.

The delicate salt flat mouse is a sigmodontine rodent species in the family Cricetidae from South America. It is the only species in the genus Salinomys. Its habitat is scrublands bordering salt flats in the Monte Desert area of central western Argentina at elevations around 400 m. The closest relatives of the species are the chaco mice (Andalgalomys).

The Los Alisos leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodents in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Argentina.

The Punta de Vacas leaf-eared mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found on Andean mountains in Argentina and Chile. Although these mountaintops have no vegetation and mummified remains of mice have long been assumed to be transported there by people, live specimens have been caught as high as 6739 meters elevation. Also, dating of the mouse remains shows them to be too new to be from Incan era burials, and genetic analysis points to these mice as being part of populations rather than being brought from afar. The range of this species also extends to lower elevations, at least as low as 3651 meters.

References

  1. ↑ Bernal, N.; Zeballos, H.; Vivar, E.; Pardinas, U.; Jayat, J.P. (2016). "Phyllotis xanthopygus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T17232A22341741. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T17232A22341741.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kramer, K.; Monjeau, A.; Birney, E.; Sikes, R. (1999). "Phyllotis xanthopygus". Mammalian Species (617): 1–7. doi: 10.2307/3504375 . JSTOR   3504375.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kramer, K.; Birney, E. (2001). "Effects of Light Intensity on Activity Patterns of Patagonian Leaf-Eared Mice, Phyllotis xanthopygus". Journal of Mammalogy. 82 (2): 534–544. doi:10.1093/jmammal/82.2.535.
  4. ↑ Kramer, Kristin M.; Monjeau, J. Adrian; Birney, Elmer C.; Sikes, Robert S. (1999). "Phyllotis xanthopygus" (PDF). Mammalian Species (617): 1–7. doi: 10.2307/3504375 . JSTOR   3504375.
  5. 1 2 López-Cortés, F.; Cortés, A.; Miranda, E.; Rau, J. (2007). "Feeding habits of Abrothrix andinus, Phyllotis xanthopygus (Rodentia) and Lepus europaeus (Lagomorpha) in an Andean environment of Chile". Revista Chilena de Historia Natural. 80: 3–12.
  6. ↑ Storz, J.F., Quiroga-Carmona, M., Opazo, J.C., Bowen, T., Farson, M., Steppan, S.J., and D’Elía, G. (2020). Discovery of the world’s highest-dwelling mammal. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117:18169-18171.
  7. ↑ Barras, Colin (19 March 2020). "World's highest mammal discovered at the top of a Mars-like volcano". New Scientist . Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  8. 1 2 Nespolo, R.; Opazo, J.; Rosenmann, M.; Bozinovic, F. (1999). "Thermal acclimation, maximum metabolic rate, and nonshivering thermogenesis of Phyllotis xanthopygus (Rodentia) in the Andes mountains". Journal of Mammalogy. 80 (3): 742–748. doi: 10.2307/1383243 . JSTOR   1383243.
  9. ↑ Pardińas, U.F.J.; Teta, P.; Sauthier, D.U. (2008). "Mammalia, Didelphimorphia and Rodentia, Southwest of the province of Mendoza, Argentina". Check List. 4 (3): 218–225. doi: 10.15560/4.3.218 . hdl: 11336/100422 .
  10. 1 2 3 Kramer, Kristin M.; Birney, Elmer C. (2001). "Effect of Light Intensity on Activity Patterns of Patagonian Leaf-Eared Mice,phyllotis Xanthopygus" (PDF). Journal of Mammalogy. 82 (2): 535. doi: 10.1644/1545-1542(2001)082<0535:EOLIOA>2.0.CO;2 . JSTOR   1383733.
  11. ↑ Nespolo, Roberto F.; Opazo, Juan C.; Rosenmann, Mario; Bozinovic, Francisco (1 January 1999). "Thermal Acclimation, Maximum Metabolic Rate, and Nonshivering Thermogenesis of Phyllotis xanthopygus (Rodentia) in the Andes Mountains". Journal of Mammalogy. 80 (3): 742–748. doi: 10.2307/1383243 . JSTOR   1383243.
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