Euneomys chinchilloides

673.

Patagonian Chinchilla Rat

Euneomys chinchilloides

French: Eunéomys chinchilla / German: Patagonien-Chinchillamaus / Spanish: Rata chinchilla de Patagonia

Other common names: Patagonian Chinchilla Mouse, Tierra del Fuego Euneomys

Taxonomy. Reithrodon chinchilloides Waterhouse, 1839, “south shore of the Strait of Magellan, near the Eastern entrance.” Restricted byJ. K. Braun and U. FE.J. Pardinas in 2015 to “near Bahia [Bahia] San Sebastian on the Argentina side of Tierra del Fuego.”

Funeomys chinchilloides ultimus named by O. Thomas in 1916 is occasionally used as a race to distinguish southernmost island populations. Monotypic.

Distribution. Extreme S Argentina and Chile mainland and Tierra del Fuego Is.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 112-156 mm, tail 58-81 mm, ear 19-3 mm, hindfoot 32 mm; weight 50 g. The Patagonian Chinchilla Rat is heavy-bodied and short-tailed, larger than Peterson’s Chinchilla Rat (E. petersoni), with dense, soft, and densely colored pelage, although with darker overall tendency. Its ears are relatively small. Head, back, and sides are uniformly cinnamon rufous, lightly mixed with dusky; underparts are clear cinnamon rufous, nearly concealing under color of dark mouse gray; hands and feet are white; and tail is sharply bicolored, brownish above and whitish below. Narrow area of pure white surrounding rhinarium and extending short distance along upperlips is very characteristic of the Patagonian Chinchilla Rat. Upper incisors are laterally grooved.

Habitat. Magellan tundra habitats of southern islands, near Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae) forest typically above timberline or in ecotone forest-steppe.

Food and Feeding. The Patagonian Chinchilla Rat is herbivorous.

Breeding. Reproduction reportedly occurs in summer; juveniles and immature individuals were captured in February-April.

Activity patterns. The Patagonian Chinchilla Rat is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Braun & Pardinas (2015), Hershkovitz (1962), Lizarralde et al. (1994), Olrog (1950), Osgood (1943a), Patterson, D'Elia & Pardinas (2008), Pearson & Christie (1991), Pine et al. (1978), Reise & Gallardo (1990), Reise & Venegas (1987), Thomas (1916b), Waterhouse (1837 1839).