Cricetidae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
Author
Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
text
2017
2017-11-30
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II
204
535
book chapter
80832
10.5281/zenodo.6707142
ab66b2b7-9544-4411-bf61-5bc3651d7bca
978-84-16728-04-6
6707142
653.
Apeco Oldfield Mouse
Thomasomys apeco
French:
Thomasomys de I'Apeco
/
German:
Apeco-Paramomaus
/
Spanish:
Raton de erial de Apeco
Other common names:
Apeco Thomasomys
Taxonomy.
Thomasomys apeco Leo & Gardner, 1993
,
“Valle de Los Chochos, ca.
25 km
NE Pataz,
3280 m
, Parque Nacional Rio Abiseo,
San Martin
,
Peru
.”
This species is monotypic.
Distribution.
Known only from the type locality in the Andes of NC Peru.
Descriptive notes.
Head-body 237-238 mm, tail 279-329 mm, ear 27-31 mm, hindfoot 50-59 mm; weight 164-335 g. The
Apeco Oldfield Mouse
is the largest living species of
Thomasomys
. Dorsal pelage is bright, long, and dense, varying from raw sienna to ocherous tawny and tawny olive streaked, and with black guard hairs. Venter is ocherous buff. Mystacial vibrissae are very long and extended beyond pinnae. Tail is longer than head-body length, and terminal pencil is absent.
Habitat.
Upper montane forests and paramo-like habitats (locally called “jalca”) near forest borders at elevations of 3200-3380 m.
Apeco Oldfield Mice
have been recorded in logs, on bank above small stream, and on forest floor in isolated patch of elfin forest.
Food and Feeding.
No information.
Breeding.
The
Apeco Oldfield Mouse
appears to breed in dry season. One female was pregnant in August (dry season) with a single embryo; another female was captured in July with well-developed mammae. Subadult males had well-developed testes in July— August.
Activity patterns.
Poorly known, but the
Apeco Oldfield Mouse
could be terrestrial and arboreal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
No information.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The
Apeco Oldfield Mouse
has a very restricted distribution and is known only from the type locality and surrounding montane forests.
Bibliography.
Fabre et al. (2008), Gardner & Romo (1993), Leo & Gardner (1993), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pacheco (2003, 2015b), Pacheco et al. (2009).