New data on the poorly known Andean rodent Abrocoma uspallata (Rodentia: Abrocomidae)

Abstract

The caviomorph rodent Abrocoma uspallataBraun, J.K. and Mares, M.A. (2002). Systematics of the Abrocomacinerea species complex (Rodentia: Abrocomidae),with a description of a new species of Abrocoma. J. Mammal.83: 1–19, doi: 10.1093/jmammal/83.1.1, stands as the mostrecently described species within its genus and remains oneof the least studied. Known from two localities in northwesternMendoza Province, Argentina, this elusive rodenthas been the subject of four field studies conducted during2022. The obtained evidence, including craniodental remainsand fecal samples, suggest a moderate abundance of thespecies and a broader geographical range spanning at least1,050 km2. Abrocoma uspallata has scattered occurrences atmid-elevations, typically around 2,000 m, across the Sierrade Uspallata and adjacent hilly systems. These findings pointthe species as a pre-Andean Abrocoma Waterhouse, 1837,together with Abrocoma schistacea Thomas, O. (1921). Onmammals fromthe Province of San Juan,Western Argentina.Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 8th Series 9: 214–221, which occurs in the nearby province of San Juan. In addition, although treated asVulnerable according to the last Argentinean conservationassessment, the species should be considered Least Concern.