Taxonomy of the long‐tailed mouseOligoryzomys destructor(Sigmodontinae: Oryzomyini) with the designation of neotypes forHesperomys destructorTschudi, 1844 andHesperomys melanostomaTschudi, 1844

Abstract

The genus Oligoryzomys, distributed from southern South America to southern North America, is the most diverse of the tribe Oryzomyini of sigmodontine rodents. Even when 22 species are currently recognized, species boundaries are unclear for several forms. The species Oligoryzomys destructor is one of the least studied species of the genus and is the one with the largest distribution along the Andes (from southern Colombia to northern Bolivia). The species was described without the selection of a holotype and indication of its type locality. In addition, several taxa are regarded as synonyms of O. destructor. These facts are relevant because previous analysis of DNA sequences has shown that O. destructor represents a species complex. Herein, in addition to test the phylogenetic position of O. destructor within the genus Oligoryzomys, we assess patterns of morphological and molecular variation of O. destructor and its associated nominal forms aimed to assess the boundaries of the species. As part of the study, we selected neotypes for Hesperomys destructor and H. melanostoma. At the light of our results, we recognized O. destructor as a species with two subspecies, O. d. destructor and O. d. spodiurus. Also, we discuss the role of Andean rivers, and their different permeability, as allopatric barriers molding the structure of O. destructor.

Small Mammals of the Mayo River Basin in Northern Peru, with the Description of a New Species of Sturnira (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

“…Remarks: Our specimens were captured in a flooded forest. Lareschi and Velazco (2013) (Weksler and Bonvicino, 2015b;Pardinas, 2017a;Hurtado and D'Elia, 2019). Our specimen con¬ forms to previous descriptions of the nominate subspecies, and measurements fall within the range of size variation previously documented.…”

“…Remarks: At Mayo River basin, two of our specimens of Oligoryzomys destructor were cap¬ tured at the Tingana locality which lies at an elevation of 815 m, far lower than the lowest elevation (1600 m) reported by Hurtado and D'Elia (2019) for the nominal subspecies. All three specimens were captured in cultivated areas.…”

“…as the lower limit of the elevational range for the spe¬ cies. We captured Oligoryzomys destructor at two localities at 815 m and 1078 m, both of which are far lower than the lower limit reported for the species of 1600 m byHurtado and D'Elia (2019).These expansions of the elevational range of these two species are evidence of the incomplete knowl¬ edge of small mammals in the area. The high rate of anthropogenic disturbances in the Mayo River basin threatens the biodiver¬ sity of one the most diverse regions in the Andes, home to endemic species like Neacomys spinosus, Lagothrix flavicauda, and Callicebus oenanthe.…”

A comment on Hurtado & D'Elía (2019): Neotypes for von Tschudi's Hesperomys destructor and Hesperomys melanostoma are invalid

“…Hurtado and D'Elía () argued that the taxonomic assessment of the populations currently recognized as Oligoryzomys destructor (said by them to be a species complex) is complicated because no type material was designated by von Tschudi (, ). The authors then designated two adult male specimens in the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH, Chicago—USA) as neotypes for H. destructor (FMNH 24611) and H. melanostoma (FMNH 24608).…”

Uncovering hidden specific diversity of Andean glassfrogs of theCentrolene buckleyispecies complex (Anura: Centrolenidae)

“…Proposing candidate species, which currently is mostly done on the basis of molecular evidence ( Correa et al, 2017 ; Hurtado & D’Elía, 2018 ; Lin, Stur & Ekrem, 2018 ) can guide future taxonomic research, allowing one to direct the costlier efforts (e.g., field collections, morphological assessment of large specimen series) to specific taxonomic and geographic areas of interest. In turn, these efforts result in an acceleration of the discovery and validation of new species ( Dellicour & Flot, 2015 ; Vitecek et al, 2017 ), which is relevant in the current era of biodiversity crisis.…”