Small mammals of the mid-Araguaia River in central Brazil, with the description of a new species of climbing rat
Author
Rocha, Rita G.
Author
Ferreira, Eduardo
Author
Costa, Barbara M. A.
Author
Martins, Iracy C. M.
Author
Leite, Yuri L. R.
Author
Costa, Leonora P.
Author
Fonseca, Carlos
text
Zootaxa
2011
2789
1
34
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.206170
6fa16a5a-560e-432f-ad9e-f93e8bd3e90d
1175-5326
206170
Oecomys paricola
(Thomas)
Identification.
The dorsal pelage is orange brown and the tail is more hairy and the ending tuft more prominent than in other species. The skull (
Fig. 9
a) is small and the rostrum varies from slender in females to broad in males. Zygomatic notches are almost indistinct, the interorbital region converges anteriorly and it has supraorbital ledges extending onto parietals. The incisive foramen is oval-shaped and does not reach the molar rows. The mesopterygoid fossa is arched and sphenopalatine vacuities are absent, mesopterygoid roof is totally ossified. Posterior palatal pits are prominent and often divided. It also has the pattern 1 of carotid circulation (
sensu
Voss 1988
), and alisphenoid strut is absent. Upper incisors are slightly opisthodont, labial accessory root of M1 is present and maxillary tooth rows are smaller than in
Oecomys
sp. or
O
. roberti
.
Measurements
(n = 4): HB = 102–117, T = 107–123, HF = 23–25, E = 17–18, W = 35–45.
Distribution.
This species occurs in central
Brazil
south of the Amazon River (
Musser & Carleton 2005
). Here we provide the southernmost record of
O
. paricola
, in a transitional area between Cerrado and Amazonia.
Natural history.
Six specimens (four males and two females) of
O
. paricola
were captured in pitfalls in the southern part of PEC, which is the most preserved area of the park. Only one adult male was captured in a Sherman trap in the northern part of PEC.
Vouchers
(n = 6: 4ɗ 2Ψ): UFES
1365–1368
,
1438
–1439.