An endemic new species of tuco-tuco, genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae), with a restricted geographic distribution in southern Brazil

A new species of tuco-tuco, genus Ctenomys, is described from sandy soils on the western slopes of the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. This species is distinguished from other named members of this South American endemic genus by several characteristics. Diagnostic traits for this pro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of mammalogy 2012-10, Vol.93 (5), p.1355-1367
Main Authors: de Freitas, Thales R. O., Fernandes, Fabiano A., Fornel, Rodrigo, Roratto, Paula A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biological evolution
Biological taxonomies
Ctenomys
endangered
Endemic species
endemism
Eucalyptus
FEATURE ARTICLES
fossorial
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
geometric morphometrics
Grasslands
Haplotypes
Mammalia
Mammalogy
Mammals
Mitochondrial DNA
New species
Pampa biome
Phylogenetics
Principal components analysis
Rodentia
Skull
Specimens
Taxonomy
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
Zoology
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Description
Summary:A new species of tuco-tuco, genus Ctenomys, is described from sandy soils on the western slopes of the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. This species is distinguished from other named members of this South American endemic genus by several characteristics. Diagnostic traits for this proposed species are a diploid number of 50 chromosomes and an autosomal fundamental number of 68 arms, with the 1st pair much longer than in other related species. Qualitative and quantitative (geometric morphometrics) analyses of the skull morphology and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene support species status, especially when compared with phylogenetically related and geographically neighboring species. Populations of this species have a narrow geographic distribution in a small area (∼500 km2) that has been suffering from anthropogenic pressure from soybean, pine, and eucalyptus plantations, as well as desertification. This scenario suggests that this species could be characterized as endangered. Uma nova espécie de tuco-tuco, gênero Ctenomys, é descrita para a região de solos arenosos no oeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Esta espécie distinguiu-se das demais espécies do gênero, endêmico da América do Sul, através de diversas abordagens. O número diplóide 2n = 50 (número de braços autossômicos ou número fundamental NF = 68) com o primeiro par consideravelmente maior que outras espécies relacionadas, são características diagnósticas para a nova espécie. Análises qualitativas e quantitativas de morfologia do crânio, utilizando morfometria geométrica, bem como análises filogenéticas do gene mitocondrial citocromo b, suportam este status, principalmente em comparação com outras espécies do gênero relacionadas filogeneticamente e próxima geograficamente. Com área de ocorrência restrita à aproximadamente 500 km2, esta espécie encontra-se extremamente ameaçada devido à intensa produção de soja e silvicultura na região, além de processos de desertificação. Este cenário sugere que a nova espécie seja categorizada como ameaçada.
ISSN:0022-2372
1545-1542
DOI:10.1644/12-MAMM-A-007.1