Uncovering the species diversity of subterranean rodents at the end of the World: three new species of Patagonian tuco-tucos (Rodentia, Hystricomorpha, Ctenomys)

Ctenomys Blainville 1826 is one of the most diverse genera of South American caviomorph rodents. Currently, six species of this genus are reported from Patagonia, south of 42◦S. In this contribution, we assessed the taxonomic status of several populations from eastern and central Chubut province, northern Patagonia. Based on phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences, morphology assessment (qualitative and quantitative), and previously published karyological data, we describe three new species of this genus, one formed by two subspecies, endemic to northern Patagonia. In addition, we include C. coyhaiquensis Kelt and Gallardo 1994 into the synonymy of C. sericeus J.A. Allen 1903. Finally, we discussed the need for additional integrative approaches, including field collection of specimens, to better understand the diversity of this highly speciose rodent genus.Fil: Teta, Pablo Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: D Elía, Guillermo. Universidad Austral de Chile; Chil

Patterns in research and data sharing for the study of form and function in caviomorph rodents

The combination of morphometrics, phylogenetic comparative methods, and open data sets has renewed interest in relating morphology to adaptation and ecological opportunities. Focusing on the Caviomorpha, a well-studied mammalian group, we evaluated patterns in research and data sharing in studies relating form and function. Caviomorpha encompasses a radiation of rodents that is diverse both taxonomically and ecologically. We reviewed 41 publications investigating ecomorphology in this group. We recorded the type of data used in each study and whether these data were made available, and we re-digitized all provided data. We tracked two major lines of information: collections material examined and trait data for morphological and ecological traits. Collectively, the studies considered 63% of extant caviomorph species; all extant families and genera were represented. We found that species-level trait data rarely were provided. Specimen-level data were even less common. Morphological and ecological data were too heterogeneous and sparse to aggregate into a single data set, so we created relational tables with the data. Additionally, we concatenated all specimen lists into a single data set and standardized all relevant data for phylogenetic hypotheses and gene sequence accessions to facilitate future morphometric and phylogenetic comparative research. This work highlights the importance and ongoing use of scientific collections, and it allows for the integration of specimen information with species trait data.Recientemente ha resurgido el interés por estudiar la relación entre morfología, ecología, y adaptación. Esto se debe al desarrollo de nuevas herramientas morfométricas y filogenéticas, y al acceso a grandes bases de datos para estudios comparados. Revisamos 41 publicaciones sobre ecomorfología de roedores caviomorfos, un grupo diverso y bien estudiado, para evaluar los patrones de investigación y la transparencia para la liberación de datos. Registramos los tipos de datos que se utilizaron para cada estudio y si los datos están disponibles. Cuando estos datos se compartieron, los redigitalizamos. Nos enfocamos en los ejemplares consultados, y en datos que describen rasgos ecológicos y morfológicos para las especies estudiadas. Los estudios que revisamos abarcan el 63% de las especies de caviomorfos que actualmente existen. Encontramos que raramente fueron compartidos los datos que se tomaron para especies, y menos aún para ejemplares. Los datos morfológicos y ecológicos eran demasiado heterogéneos e exiguos para consolidar en un solo banco de datos; debido a esta circunstancia, creamos tablas relacionales con los datos. Además, enlazamos todas las listas individuales de especímenes para crear un solo banco de datos y estandarizamos todos los datos pertinentes a hipótesis filogenéticas, así como los números de acceso de secuencias genéticas, para así facilitar eventuales estudios comparados de morfometría y filogenia. Este trabajo resalta la importancia de las colecciones científicas y documenta su uso, además permitiendo la futura integración de datos derivados de ejemplares con datos sobre rasgos ecomorfológicos a nivel de especie.Fil: Verde Arregoitia, Luis D.. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Teta, Pablo Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: D Elía, Guillermo. Universidad Austral de Chile; Chil

Sigmodontinos fósiles (rodentia, muroidea, sigmodontinae) de América del Sur : estado actual de su conocimiento y prospectiva

Fil: Pardiñas, Ulyses Francisco José. Departamento Científico Paleontología Vertebrados; Museo de La PlataFil: D`Elía, Guillermo. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology; Ann Arbor; USAFil: Ortiz, Pablo E.. Cátedra de Paleozoología II; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Miguel Lillo 205; 4000 San Miguel de Tucumán; Argentin

Geographic Variation in Cranial Morphology of the Southern Mountain Cavy, Microcavia australis (Rodentia, Caviidae): Taxonomic Implications, with the Description of A New Species

We analyzed the geographic variation in cranial morphology of the Southern Mountain Cavy, Microcavia australis, throughout of its distributional range. Our analysis allows us to recognize three geographically allopatric morphotypes. Thesemorphotypes differ in the general size and shape of the skull and discrete morphological traits of the zygomatic arch, palate and mesopterygoid fossa. Based on these results, we restrict the name australis to populationsdistributed in southern Argentina and west-central Andes and the name maenas to the morphotype of northwestern and central Argentina. The third morphotype occurs in the Dry Chaco ecoregion and is described here as a new species.Fil: Teta, Pablo Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Ojeda, Ricardo Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Lucero, Sergio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: D Elía, Guillermo. Universidad Austral; Chil

Akodon polopi Jayat et al., 2010 is a senior subjective synomym of Akodon viridescens Braun et al., 2010

Two new taxa of species level were recently named for grass mice of the genus Akodon (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) from central Argentina: Akodon polopi Jayat, Ortiz, Salazar-Bravo, Pardiñas et D’Elía, 2010 and Akodon viridescens Braun, Mares, Coyner et Van Den Bussche, 2010. Several lines of evidence show that both taxa refer to the same biological species. Various morphologic characters enumerated by the two research teams for A. polopi and A. viridescens are coincident. The brownish coloration of the dorsal pelage, the chin with a small but distinguishable white patch, the tail of approximately 70% of head and body length, and the broad rostrum are among the diagnostic characters cited for both forms. Other additional characters mentioned in the diagnosis of only one of the nominal forms are also enumerated in the general description of the other. These include the size intermediate for the genus, the hour-glass shaped interorbital region with sharply squared posterior margins in older individuals, the anterior border of mesopterygoid fossa rounded with sides parallel or slightly diverging backward, and the parapterygoid fossae with straight and gradually divergent sides. Many additional features are mentioned for both nominal forms in their general descriptions.Fil: D' Elía, Guillermo. Universidad Austral de Chile. Instituto de Ecología y Evolución; ChileFil: Jayat, Jorge Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecológicas de Las Yungas; ArgentinaFil: Ortiz, Pablo Edmundo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Cátedra de Paleontología; ArgentinaFil: Salazar-bravo, Jorge. Texas Tech University. Department of Biological Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Pardiñas, Ulises Francisco J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentin

The phylogenetic position of the enigmatic Atlantic forest-endemic spiny mouse Abrawayaomys (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae)

Background The phylogenetic position of the sigmodontine genus Abrawayaomys, historically assigned to the tribe Thomasomyini or considered a sigmodontine incertae sedis, was assessed on the basis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from four individuals from different localities in the Atlantic forest of Brazil. Sequences of Abrawayaomys were analyzed in the context of broad taxonomic matrices by means of maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analyses (BA). Results The phylogenetic position of Abrawayaomys differed depending on the gene analyzed and the analysis performed (interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) ML: sister to Thomasomyini; IRBP BA: sister to Akodontini; cytochrome (Cyt) b ML: sister to Neotomys; and Cyt b BA: sister to Reithrodontini). With the sole exception of the BA based on Cyt b sequences, where the Abrawayaomys-Reithrodon clade had strong support, all sister-group relationships involving Abrawayaomys lacked any significant support. Conclusions As such, Abrawayaomys constitutes the only representative so far known of one of the main lineages of the sigmodontine radiation, differing from all other Atlantic forest sigmodontine rodents by having a unique combination of morphological character states. Therefore, in formal classifications, it should be regarded as a Sigmodontinae incertae sedis.Fil: Ventura, Karen. Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Biociências. Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva; BrasilFil: Silva, Maria José. Instituto Butantan. Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução; BrasilFil: Geise, Lena. Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Biologia. Departamento de Zoologia. Laboratório de Mastozoologia; BrasilFil: Leite, Yuri L. R.. Universidade Federal Do Espirito Santo; BrasilFil: Pardiñas, Ulyses Francisco J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Yonenaga Yassuda, Yatiyo. Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Biociências. Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva; BrasilFil: D Elía, Guillermo. Universidad Austral de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias. Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas; Chil

Taxonomical notes on the long-clawed mole mice of the genus Geoxus (Cricetidae), with the description of a new species from an oceanic island of southern Chile

The rodent genus Geoxus was largely considered as monotypic; however, a growing body of evidence suggests that this figure is incorrect. In this work, based on qualitative and quantitative morphological evidence and DNA sequence data, we reviewed the alpha taxonomy of this genus. Based on the examination of 134 specimens, four species are recognized within Geoxus: G. annectens(until recently referred to the genus Pearsonomys), G. michaelseni, G. valdivianus, and one species described herein as new. The four species have unique combinations of qualitative and quantitative morphological characters and were recovered as monophyletic using mitochondrial DNA sequences. The new species diagnosed and named here is endemic of Guafo Island, a small island of299 square kilometers on southern Pacific Chile. Phylogenetic analysis placed the new species as sister of G. michaelseni, a form widely distributed in southern Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia.Fil: Teta, Pablo Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: D Elía, Guillermo. Universidad Austral; Chil

First record of the genus Notiomys Thomas 1890 (Rodentia, Cricetidae) for Chile

El ensamble patagónico de pequeños mamíferos ha fascinado desde siempre a los naturalistas. Aun cuando es moderadamente diverso, varios de sus componentes son endémicos de la región. Uno de éstos es el género monotípico Notiomys cuya única especie, N. edwardsii, es ampliamente distribuida en la estepa patagónica argentina. Un ratón muerto fue encontrado en el Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, Última Esperanza, Chile, que fue determinado como pertenecientemente a la especie N. edwardsii. El registro recién mencionado permite reportar el género Notiomys por primera vez para Chile. Este resultado resalta la necesidad de continuar con las colectas de ejemplares en campo, aún en áreas donde los ensambles de mamíferos están, presuntamente, bien caracterizados.The Patagonian assemblage of small mammals has long fascinated naturalists. Even when it is moderately diverse, several of its components are endemic to the region. One of these is the monotypic genus Notiomys, whose single species N. edwardsii is widely distributed in the steppes of Argentinean Patagonia. A dead mouse found in Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, Última Esperanza, Chile, which was determined as belonging to the species N. edwardsii. The just mentioned finding allows us to report the genus Notiomys for the first time to Chile. This result highlights the need of keeping doing field prospections even in areas whose mammal assemblages are presumably well characterized.Fil: D Elía, Guillermo. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Barria, Roderich. No especifica;Fil: Teta, Pablo Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Significant range extension for the Foch’s tuco tuco (Ctenomys fochi Thomas, 1919; Rodentia, Ctenomyidae)

Ctenomys fochi es una de las especies menos estudiada del género. Hasta el momento solo ha sido documentada en dos localidades en Argentina, Chumbicha (Provincia de Catamarca) y Estancia La Providencia (Provincia de Córdoba). Sobre la base del estudio de caracteres morfológicos y genéticos de materiales depositados en la colección de mamíferos del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, en esta nota reportamos el primer registro de la especie para la provincia de Santiago del Estero (Finca Zorro Pozo, aproximadamente 8,6 km al OSO de Isca Yacu, Dpto. Giménez) y discutimos las implicancias de la extensión del rango distribucional en el contexto de su estatus de conservación.Ctenomys fochi is one of the less studied species of the genus. Until the present, it has been documented for only two Argentinean localities, Chumbicha (Catamarca Province) and Estancia La Providencia (Córdoba Province). On the base of the study of morphologic and genetic characters of materials housed in the mammal collection of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, in this note we report the first record for the species in Santiago del Estero (Zorro Pozo, approximately 8.6 km WSW of Isca Yacu, Giménez Department) and we discuss the implications of the extension of the range in the context of its conservation status.Fil: Jayat, Jorge Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Chilecito. Departamento de Ciencias Basicas y Tecnologicas; ArgentinaFil: D' Elía, Guillermo. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Teta, Pablo Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Solving a long-standing nomenclatorial controversy: Designation of a neotype for the southern sea lion Otaria flavescens (Shaw, 1800)

During almost two centuries, two available specific epithets have competed for the southern sea lions of the genus Otaria Péron, 1816 (Fig. 1), which is classically regarded as monotypic (but see below). The species distributes more or less continuously along the Atlantic coast from southern Brazil south to Cape Horn and along the Pacific from northern Peru to the west South American Pacific coast . While some researchers have argued that the correct name for this species is Phoca flavescens Shaw, 1800 (e.g., Cabrera, 1940, Rice, 1977; Rodriguez & Bastida, 1993; Teta et al., 2018), others have used P. byronia de Blainville, 1820 (e.g., Allen, 1905; Hamilton, 1934; King, 1978, Oliva, 1988; Berta & Churchill, 2012). This controversy originates from the fact that the diagnosis of the type of flavescens, the oldest epithet and as such the one that has priority, would not match the phenotypic features of the genus Otaria. This view, which favors the usage of byronia for populations of southern sea lions, was strongly defended by Oliva (1988:768), who argued that “…(1) the total length of the holotype [of flavescens]; (2) the size of the external ear; and (3) the color and length of the specimen’s fur do not correspond to any developmental stage of the species.” However, Rodríguez and Bastida (1993:378) discussed these same features reaching a very different conclusion, by indicating that “Shaw’s holotype, collected in the Strait of Magellan, could only have been a newborn pup of Otaria or Arctocephalus australis; its body size (circa 62 cm) could correspond to either species, but the uniform yellowish color is found exclusively in some molted pups of the Southern sea lion. Ear length, though not matching well with the described body length, lies within the recorded range of Otaria, but outside that for Arctocephalus australis.”Fil: Lucero, Sergio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Sara Magdalena. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Teta, Pablo Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Cassini, Guillermo Hernán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: D Elía, Guillermo. Universidad Austral de Chile; Chil