Abstract. We recognize the Akodon boliviensis group as an informal assemblage of species
including Akodon boliviensis (western
Bolivia and Puno Department, Peru), Akodon
puer (subspecies caenosus in
northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia, puer in central Bolivia, and lutescens
in Puno Department, Peru and La Paz Department, Bolivia), Akodon subfuscus (subspecies subfuscus
in southeastern Peru and La Paz Department, Bolivia; also a new subspecies from
southeastern Peru), and Akodon n. sp.
(central Peru). We further suggest that Akodon
spegazzinii (subspecies spegazzinii
and tucumanensis) from northern
Argentina may be a member of this group. Akodon
pacificus os shown to be a synonym of A.
boliviensis. The bolivisneis
group is diagnosed by a combination of characters including small size,
delicate cranium, narrow and straight-sided mesopterygoid fossa,
hourglass-shaped interorbital region, and dull brown fur without contrastingly
colored areas.
Descriptions
of included species and subspecies are provided. Traditional cranial, dental,
and external characters are used in combination with electrophoresis and
anatomical features of the soft palates, male reproductive tracts, and hind
feet to recognize and diagnose species. Treatment of age-related variation is
particularly important to distinguish these species; we document qualitative
and quantitative changes in cranial morphology with age (toothwear class) and
use regression to allow comparison of individuals of different ages.
We
tentatively propose that subfuscus, puer, and the new species form a clade
with bolivisneis as its sister group.
This hypothesis cannot be subjected to formal test, however, until the
condition of relevant characters in potential outgroups is better understood.
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