New geographic distribution records for ten species of sigmodontine rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from Northwestern Argentina

Abstract

New geographic distribution records for ten species of sigmodontine rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from Northwestern Argentina. The Sigmodontinae have radiated to encompass all the terrestrial environments and a wide altitudinal gradient through its large geographic distribution. In Northwestern Argentina (NWA) this group constitutes approximately 30% of the mammals of the region. Several works in the last years have contributed to the knowledge of the geographic distribution of the sigmodontine rodents in NWA. Notwithstanding, many of the species are known only by old and scarce records, most of them heavily biased towards more accessible areas. From surveys conducted in the last three years in the area, which include captures and collections of pellets samples of strigiform birds, in this work we report novel distribution records for the species in this group. We contribute with new record for ten species and eight localities. The new records include the addition of Abrothrix illutea and Oxymycterus wayku for Salta province and Andalgalomys cf. A. olrogi for La Rioja province, the first mentions of Calomys lepidus and Phyllotis tucumanus in high altitudinal grasslands located in Monte de Sierras y Bolsones and Akodon boliviensis in the Puna of Argentina, and several distributional records for Abrothrix andina, Neotomys ebriosus, P. anitae, and Reithrodon auritus, four species not well documented in the study area. Finally, we discussed some methodological and taxonomic aspects, and the relevance of each one of the obtained records.

Late-Holocene environmental conditions revealed by a small mammal assemblage in mountain areas of Northwestern Argentina

“…Our conclusions would not have been possible without the noteworthy increase in knowledge on taxonomy, distribution, ecological requirements and fossil record of small mammals of the region in recent years, which begins to show general trends on the evolution of these communities in the Quaternary and their close connection with the environmental changes (e.g. d 'Hiriart et al, 2015'Hiriart et al, , 2017'Hiriart et al, , 2021a'Hiriart et al, , 2021bGomez et al, 2012;Guilardi et al, 2020;Jayat et al, 2007Jayat et al, , 2008aJayat et al, , 2008bJayat et al, , 2010Jayat et al, , 2011Jayat et al, , 2016Jayat et al, , 2017Jayat et al, , 2018Jayat et al, , 2020Jayat et al, , 2021Nanni et al, 2012;Ortiz et al, 2000Ortiz et al, , 2011aOrtiz et al, , 2011bOrtiz et al, , 2019Ortiz andJayat, 2007a, 2012;Ortiz and Pardiñas, 2001;Ortiz-Tempel et al, 2022;Teta et al, 2011Teta et al, , 2013Teta et al, , 2022Teta et al, , 2023. Nevertheless, although several Quaternary small mammal assemblages were described for NWA from different periods, our knowledge about short-, medium-, and long-term changes in these communities is still incipient.…”