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Heteromys oasicus (paraguaná spiny pocket mouse)

Mammalia - Rodentia - Muridae

Discussion

"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."

Taxonomy
Heteromys oasicus was named by Anderson (2003). It is extant. Its type specimen is USNM 456325.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2003Heteromys oasicus Anderson

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
RankNameAuthor
Theriamorpha(Rowe 1993)
Theriiformes()
Trechnotheria
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Boreoeutheria
EuarchontogliresMurphy et al. 2001
GliriformesWyss and Meng 1996
Glires()
Simplicidentata()
orderRodentiaBowdich 1821
infraorderMyodontaSchaub 1958
superfamilyMuroideaIlliger 1811
Eumuroida
familyMuridaeIlliger 1811
tribeEchymina
genusHeteromysDesmarest 1817
speciesoasicus

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Heteromys oasicus Anderson 2003 [paraguaná spiny pocket mouse]
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Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialsubc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: ground dwellingf
Diet: herbivoref
Diet 2: insectivoref
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Created: 2005-06-08 10:11:09
Modified: 2005-08-26 13:15:11
Source: f = family, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Lillegraven 1979, Ji et al. 2002, Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988, Nowak 1991
Collections
No collection or age range data are available