Abstract

MARTIN, Gabriel M.. On the identity of Thylamys (Marsupialia, Didelphidae) from the western pampas and south-central espinal, Argentina. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2009, vol.16, n.2, pp.333-346. ISSN 0327-9383.

The genus Thylamys is the most diverse of all the small didelphids that can be found in Argentina, but the taxonomic situation of many forms is still unresolved. The objective of this study was to determine the identity of the specimens of Thylamys that inhabit the Pampas and Espinal Ecoregions. Exosomatic, craneomandibular and dental characters from many specimens of the genus were compared (e.g., T. pallidior, T. elegans). The analysis of several hundred remains have provided evidence for the recognition of T. fenestrae (Marelli) as a valid species, which is distributed in the following Provinces of Argentina: west of Buenos Aires, east of La Pampa, south of Córdoba and San Luis. Due to the lack of type material and a succinct and rather incomplete original description, a neotype is designated and a differential diagnosis is presented for the species.

Keywords : Craniodental anatomy; Didelphidae; Pampas Ecoregion; Thylamys fenestrae.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )