A new species of Ctenomys (Rodentia, Ctenomyidae) from the pre-Andean regions of Mendoza Province, Argentina
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY(2024)
Abstract
The genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Hystricomorpha) includes an impressive diversity of species, all of which have evolved in southern South America. The number of recognized species is currently approaching 70. During the last few decades, taxonomic revisions and new field collections have resulted in both the description of new species and the synonymization of others, suggesting that much of the alpha taxonomy of Ctenomys remains unresolved, particularly when considering the vast areas of distribution that are still unsampled. Both phylogeographic patterns and the fossil record suggest that the Andean Cordillera has played a critical role in the diversification of the genus. Building upon recent, intensive field sampling in the Andean and pre-Andean regions of southern Mendoza Province, I integrated molecular and morphological data to evaluate the taxonomic status of populations of Ctenomys in this region. These analyses revealed a taxonomically-diverse Ctenomys assemblage within which here I provide the description for a new species. Available data indicate that this new species is endemic to southern portions of Mendoza Province, a geographic region that represents the confluence of 3 lineages 'magellanicus,' 'maulinus,' and 'mendocinus,' and that it is thus an area of particular importance for the conservation of these rodents. Building upon recent, intensive field sampling in southwestern regions of Mendoza Province, Argentina, I evaluate the taxonomic status of populations of Ctenomys (Rodentia). These analyses revealed a taxonomically diverse assemblage. Here I include the description of a new species of Ctenomys from this area, named, C. miguelchristie sp. nov. Graphical Abstract El genero Ctenomys (Rodentia: Hystricomorpha) incluye una impresionante diversidad de especies, las cuales han evolucionado en el sur de America del Sur. El numero de especies reconocidas se acerca actualmente a las 70. Durante las ultimas decadas, las revisiones taxonomicas y nuevas colecciones de campo han resultado tanto en la descripcion de nuevas especies como en la sinonimia de otras, lo que sugiere que gran parte de la taxonomia alfa de Ctenomys sigue sin resolverse, particularmente cuando se consideran las vastas areas de la distribucion que aun no estan muestreadas. Tanto los patrones filogeograficos como el registro fosil sugieren que la Cordillera de los Andes ha jugado un papel fundamental en la diversificacion del genero. Sobre la base de muestreos de campo intensivos recientes en las regiones Andina y pre-Andina del sur de la Provincia de Mendoza, integre datos moleculares y morfologicos para evaluar el estado taxonomico de las poblaciones de Ctenomys en esta region. Estos analisis revelaron un ensamble de Ctenomys taxonomicamente diverso del cual aqui proporciono la descripcion de una nueva especie. Los datos disponibles indican que esta nueva especie es endemica del sur de la provincia de Mendoza, region geografica que representa la confluencia de 3 linajes del genero 'magellanicus,' 'maulinus,' y 'mendocinus' y que, por lo tanto, es un area de particular importancia para la conservacion de estos roedores.
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Key words
Andes,Mendoza,Patagonia,species,subterranean rodents,taxonomy,especie,roedores subterraneos,taxonomia
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