Ctenomys porteousi Thomas 1916

35.

Cinnamon Tuco-tuco

Ctenomys porteousi

French: Tuco-tuco de Porteous / German: Zimtfarbene Kammratte / Spanish: Tuco tuco canela

Other common names: Porteous’s Tuco-tuco

Taxonomy. Ctenomys porteousi Thomas, 1916,

“Bonifacio, SSW. Buenos Ayres Province, about 36°49’ S, 62° W.”

Ctenomys porteousi belongs to the mendocinus-species group based on biogeography and mtDNA phylogeny. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 46-48 and FN = 71-73, and sperm form is simple asymmetric. Twelve different haplotypes have been found, determining a phylogeographic pattern. Monotypic.

Distribution. EC Argentina (W Buenos Aires Province).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 174-205 mm (average 186 mm), tail 68-89 mm (average 77 mm), hindfoot 28-33 mm (average 30 mm); weight 115-240 g (average 192 g). The Cinnamon Tuco-tuco is medium-sized. Dorsum is generally cinnamon-brown, lined with black. Mid-dorsum is dark, sometimes black, but not well defined. Top of muzzle and crown are black, and under parts are near grape-buff or drab, with hairs having dark slate bases. Upper surfaces of hands and feet are buffy whitish. Tail is dull whitish or pale brown, with darker terminal crest. Skull is large skull, with smooth crown; parietal ridges are imperceptible. Incisive foramina are medium-sized, and bullae are large. Upper incisors are proodont, with dark orange enamel.

Habitat. Pampa ecoregion.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Bidau (2015), Contreras & Bidau (1999), Contreras & Reig (1965), Mapelli et al. (2012), Massarini, Barros et al. (1991), Massarini, Dopazo et al. (1992), Parada et al. (2011), Vitullo et al. (1988).