Taxonomy of Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina: The occurrence of the "mendocinus" lineage

Abstract

Subterranean rodents Ctenomys are iconic representatives of the mammalian fauna from southern South America. Based on molecular data, eight lineages have been identified within the genus, although species-level identifications and relationships are still debated. Until now, the "magellanicus"clade has been the only lineage mentioned from arid, extra-Andean portions of Patagonia. Here, we report the presence of a Ctenomys population from northern Patagonia that is unambiguously associated with the Central Argentinean "mendocinus"lineage. Most of the 160,000 km2 comprising the northern portion of Patagonia-an area consisting primarily of Monte Desert shrub-land-are inhabited by Ctenomys populations of unknown taxonomy.