"Distribution: Known only from Cerro Santa Ana (fig. 4) and the Fila de Monte Cano on the Pennsula de Paraguan, Estado Falcn, Venezuela. Likely restricted to small areas of evergreen and semideciduous vegetation on the peninsula (figs. 5, 6).
Diagnosis: A species of spiny pocket mouse with adults showing the following combination of characters: p4 (lower permanent premolar) with 3 lophs; P4 (permanent upper premolar) with straight, moderately deep fold in anterior border of posterior loph; mesopterygoid fossa V-shaped, with long, thin hamular processes of pterygoids; optic foramen small, with exterior margin formed by strong bar of bone; parietomastoid suture dipping well ventral to parietal crest posterior to its widest point, then ascending dorsally to rejoin crest near its posterior termination; braincase absolutely narrow and only weakly ridged; interorbit strongly constricted; rostrum short and strongly tapered (in dorsal view); skull relatively diminutive (ONL 29.731.6 mm in examined adult specimens) and gracile; body size extremely small for genus, with hind foot 30 mm or less in adults; dorsal pelage always harsh and spiny, very pale brown and strongly grizzled with thin ochraceous hairs intermixed among spines; no lateral ochraceous band present on flanks; little or no dark coloration on forelimbs; plantar surface of hind feet naked."
Full reference: R. P. Anderson. 2003. Taxonomy, distribution, and natural history of the genus Heteromys (Rodentia: Heteromyidae) in western Venezuela, with the description of a dwarf species from the Península de Paraguaná. American Museum Novitates 3396:1-43
Belongs to Heteromys according to R. P. Anderson 2003
Sister taxa: none
Type specimen: USNM 456325
Ecology: ground dwelling herbivore-insectivore
Distribution: there are no occurrences of Heteromys oasicus in the database
Specimen images are retrieved through the ePANDDA API.
Click image to enlarge. Click to access iDigBio record.