Akodontini
Encyclopedia
Akodontini is the second most speciose tribe
of the subfamily Sigmodontinae
. It includes at least 106 living species in 19 genera and is distributed mainly in the southern half of South America
, with only two genera extending into Guyana
(Podoxymys) and Venezuela
(Necromys
). It also includes genera previously placed in tribe Scapteromyini. The following genera are now generally recognized:
Chalcomys, Hypsimys, and Microxus have been synonymized under the genus Akodon.
Several other genera were previously placed in Akodontini, but are now placed in a separate tribe Abrotrichini
, largely on molecular grounds.
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
of the subfamily Sigmodontinae
Sigmodontinae
The subfamily Sigmodontinae is one of the most diverse groups of mammals. It includes New World rats and mice, with at least 376 species. Many authorities include the Neotominae and Tylomyinae as part of a larger definition of Sigmodontinae. When those genera are included, the species count...
. It includes at least 106 living species in 19 genera and is distributed mainly in the southern half of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, with only two genera extending into Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
(Podoxymys) and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
(Necromys
Necromys
Necromys is a genus of South American sigmodontine rodents allied to Akodon. This genus has also been known as Cabreramys or more recently Bolomys. N. urichi has recently been transferred from Akodon....
). It also includes genera previously placed in tribe Scapteromyini. The following genera are now generally recognized:
- AkodonAkodonAkodon is a genus consisting of South American grass mice. They mostly occur south of the Amazon Basin and along the Andes north to Venezuela, but are absent from much of the basin itself, the far south of the continent, and the lowlands west of the Andes. Akodon is one of the most species-rich...
- BibimysBibimysBibimys is a genus of new world rats. Commonly known as the crimson-nosed rats, there are three species:*Bibimys chacoensis - Chaco Crimson-nosed Rat - found in north-east Argentina...
- Blarinomys
- Brucepattersonius
- Deltamys
- JuscelinomysJuscelinomysJuscelinomys is a genus of burrowing mice. The name is derived from Brazilian president Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira who created the city of Brasilia where the Brasilia Burrowing Mouse was discovered.There are two living species:...
- KunsiaKunsiaKunsia is the genus of giant rats. There are two South American species, both of which are classified as vulnerable by IUCN:*K. fronto *K. tomentosus...
- Lenoxus
- NecromysNecromysNecromys is a genus of South American sigmodontine rodents allied to Akodon. This genus has also been known as Cabreramys or more recently Bolomys. N. urichi has recently been transferred from Akodon....
(previously Bolomys or Cabreramys) - OxymycterusOxymycterusOxymycterus is the genus of hocicudos. They are rat-like animals endemic to South America.Species listing:Oxymycterus is the genus of hocicudos. They are rat-like animals endemic to South America.Species listing:...
- Podoxymys
- ScapteromysScapteromysScapteromys is a genus of South American rodents in the tribe Akodontini of family Cricetidae. Two species are known, found in northern Argentina, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay...
- ThalpomysThalpomysThalpomys is a genus of South American rodents in the tribe Akodontini of family Cricetidae. Two species are known, both found in the cerrado tropical savanna ecoregion of central Brazil. They are as follows:* Cerrado Mouse...
- Thaptomys
Chalcomys, Hypsimys, and Microxus have been synonymized under the genus Akodon.
Several other genera were previously placed in Akodontini, but are now placed in a separate tribe Abrotrichini
Abrotrichini
Abrotrichini, also known as the Andean clade or southern Andean clade, is a tribe of rodents in the subfamily Sigmodontinae. It includes about fifteen species in five genera, distributed in South America from southern Peru to southernmost South America, including the Patagonian steppes...
, largely on molecular grounds.
Literature cited
- D'Elía, G., Pardiñas, U.F.J., Teta, P. and Patton, J.L. 2007. Definition and diagnosis of a new tribe of sigmodontine rodents (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae), and a revised classification of the subfamily. Gayana 71(2):187-194.
- Musser, G.G. and Carleton, M.D. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. Pp. 894–1531 in Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 3rd ed. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols., 2142 pp. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0