Small mammals (Didelphimorphia, Rodentia and Chiroptera) from Pampean Region, Argentina

Fernando J Fernández,Joaquín D Carrera,Germán J Moreira,Fernando Ballejo,Fabricio Idoeta,Luciano J M De Santis,César García-Esponda

doi:10.15560/8.1.130

Abstract

We studied small mammal assemblages recovered from owl pellets collected at 11 locations throughout the Argentina’s Pampean Region. We identified 21 species, including two marsupials, one bat, and 18 rodents. From the analysis of this dataset, we could distinguish three main groups of small mammals that currently inhabit the Pampean Region: 1) a group of taxa related to Pampean agroecosystems (Calomys spp., Akodon azarae, and Oligoryzomys flavescens); 2) a group of Brazilian species (Cavia aperea, Oxymycterus rufus, Necromys lasiurus, Necromys obscurus, Holochilus brasiliensis, and Monodelphis dimidiata); and 3) a group including species from Patagonia, Espinal and Monte phytogeographic provinces (Microcavia australis, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Eligmodontia typus, Graomys griseoflavus, and Akodon molinae). In addition, we documented the first record of a species of the large-bodied group of Calomys in Buenos Aires province, expanding its distribution ca. 420 km southward.

Highlights

The Pampean Region is a large ecosystem of grasslands plains located in Central-Eastern Argentina, including southern Córdoba and Santa Fe provinces, and most of La Pampa and Buenos Aires provinces (León 1991)
Small mammal assemblages from this area have been mainly studied through the use of trapping techniques or from material recovered from owl pellets (e.g. Reig 1964; Massoia and Fornes 1965; Contreras 1968; 1973; Massoia 1976; Galliari and Pardiñas 2000; Pardiñas et al 2004; Leveau et al 2006)
We provide a list of small mammal species recovered from owl pellets collected at 11 locations throughout the Pampean Region

Summary

Introduction

The Pampean Region is a large ecosystem of grasslands plains located in Central-Eastern Argentina, including southern Córdoba and Santa Fe provinces, and most of La Pampa and Buenos Aires provinces (León 1991). We provide a list of small mammal species recovered from owl pellets collected at 11 locations throughout the Pampean Region.

Results

Conclusion