Geographic variation in quantitative skull traits in the genus Myoprocta Thomas, 1903 (Rodentia, Dasyproctidae) and its taxonomic implications

Abstract

The genus Myoprocta Thomas, 1903 includes two living species of medium-sized caviomorph rodents of the family Dasyproctidae, the red acouchi, Myoprocta acouchy (Erxleben 1777), and the green acouchi, Myoprocta pratti Pocock 1913. Whereas some recent revisionary work has considered both species to be allopatrically distributed, other reports suggest that both taxa co-occur in eastern Colombia. In this contribution, I revaluate some qualitative and quantitative skull traits within Myoprocta to clarify its taxonomy and distribution. Multivariate analyses of quantitative skull characters support the distinction between M. acouchy and M. pratti, contradicting the findings of some previous authors. Based on these results and the examination of ~100 skins, I concur with the hypothesis that the two species are allopatrically distributed.