Cuscomys
| Cuscomys | |
|---|---|
| File:Cuscomys oblativa-artist view.JPG | |
| Illustration of Cuscomys oblativus | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Abrocomidae |
| Genus: | Cuscomys Emmons, 1999 |
| Type species | |
| Abrocoma oblativa Eaton, 1916
| |
| Species | |
| File:Cuscomys Map.jpg | |
Cuscomys is a genus of rodents found in the Andes of Cusco in southern Peru. These relatively large chinchilla rats are dark grey with a distinct white line running from the crown to the nose. The genus was coined in 1999 when C. ashaninka was scientifically described,[1] but later it was discovered that C. oblativus, a species traditionally placed in the genus Abrocoma, actually belonged in Cuscomys. They are very poorly known, as C. ashaninka only is known from the holotype,[2] while C. oblativus usually has been considered extinct, as it was only known from remains found in 1912, buried alongside people in ancient Inca tombs at the Machu Picchu ruins.[3] However, photos of a rodent taken at the ruins in late 2009 likely show this species.[4] It is unclear if the Cuscomys truly are extremely rare, as they may be easily overlooked due to their remote distributions and arboreal habits.[1]
Species
[edit | edit source]- Cuscomys ashaninka – Asháninka Arboreal Chinchilla Rat
- Cuscomys oblativus – Machu Picchu Arboreal Chinchilla Rat
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Emmons, L. H. (1999). A new genus and species of abrocomid rodent from Peru (Rodentia: Abrocomidae). American Museum Novitates 3279: 1-14.
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- ^ Castillo, G. M. (2009). (in Spanish) Detectan en Cusco a roedor declarado extinto. El Comercio (Peru). 12 August 2009.
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