Mammalia, Rodentia, Cricetidae, Notiomys edwadsii (Thomas, 1890): distribution extension and geographic distribution map

Abstract

Notiomys edwardsii is a small rodent species, endemic from Argentine Patagonian steppes; its geographic distribution, taxonomy and natural history is still poorly known. In this paper, 13 new record localities for this species in Patagonia are present . All of them are located in Somuncurá plateau, a massive 25,000 km2 volcanic plain located in the middle of the Patagonian Steppe Ecoregion between the provinces of Río Negro and Chubut. These records are cranial and jaws remains recovered from pellets regurgitated by Athene cunicularia and Tyto alba, two common owls in Somuncurá. A specimen of Notiomys edwardsii was collected in Laguna Blanca, in front of Corona volcano, the highest elevation of the Somuncurá´s plateau (1,600 m a.s.l). These new records extend the distribution of Notiomys edwardsii towards the east throughout northern central Patagonia. Distribution of this species would be associated with the Patagonian Biome. At least for Somuncurá plateau, this species is present in the area at elevations above 1,000 m a.s.l. and becomes abundant in the bunchgrasses of the higher elevations of the plateau. Understanding at least how this species is distributed and what are the main ecological associations, is critical as a baseline work to plan future conservation action in a Natural Protected Area as Somuncurá.