Abstract
The distribution, natural history, and morphology of Kunsia tomentosus are updated from museum data, literature and personal communications. Thirty-seven specimens and fossil fragments are now known for the species. Two new localities are added to the previously known distributional range of the species. The very disperse records suggest that K. tomentosus presents a broad and yet fragmentary geographic distribution, and information gathered on habitat use hints that its presence is associated with open formations, mainly with the open grassland formations within Cerrado domain. The specimens analyzed here increased considerably the range of body size and craniodental measurements for species, but patterns of geographic variation of these features remain insufficiently known. Some longitudinal variation was observed in the shape of the posterior margin of the palate. We also describe for the first time the stomach morphology of K. tomentosus, which exhibits a derived unilocular-pouched pattern. The apparent restriction to some habitat types and its natural rarity, allied with the replacement of natural grasslands by agriculture fields in the Cerrado domain, denotes an increased risk for the known populations in Brazil.References
Ackerly, D.D., Thomas, W.W., Cid Ferreira, C.A. & Pirani, J.R. (1989) The Forest-Cerrado transition zone in southern Amazonia: results of the 1985 Projeto Flora Amazônica expedition to Mato Grosso. Brittonia, 41, 113–128.
Anderson, S. (1997) Mammals of Bolivia, taxonomy and distribution. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 231, 1–652.
Askew, G.P., Moffat, D.J., Montgomery, R.F. & Searl, P.L. (1970) Soil landscapes in North Eastern Mato Grosso. The Geographical Journal, 136, 211–227.
Avila-Pires, F.D. (1972) A new subspecies of Kunsia fronto (Winge, 1887) from Brazil (Rodentia, Cricetidae). Revista Brasileira de Biologia, 32, 419–422.
Bernardes, A.T., Machado, A.B.M. & Rylands, A.B. (1990) Fauna brasileira ameaçada de extinção. Fundação Biodiversitas, Belo Horizonte, 65 pp.
Bezerra, A.M.R. (2005) Phallic Morphology of Kunsia tomentosus (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae). Mastozoología Neotropical, 12, 227–232.
Bishop, I.R. (1974) An annotated list of caviomorph rodents collected in North-Eastern Mato Grosso, Brazil. Mammalia, 38, 489–502.
Bonvicino, C.R. & Weksler, M. (1998) A new species of Oligoryzomys (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae) from Central Brazil. Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, 63, 90–103.
Braun, E.H.G. & Andrade Ramos, J.R. (1959) Estudo agroecológico dos campos uciari, Humaitá, Estado do Amazonas e Território Federal de Rondônia. Revista Brasileira de Geografia, 4, 3–497.
Bugge, j. (1970) The contribution of the stapedial artery to the cephalic arterial supply in muroid rodents. Acta Anatomica, 76, 313–336.
Carleton, M.D. (1973) Survey of gross stomach morphology in New World Cricetinae (Rodentia, Muroidea), with comments on functional interpretations. Miscellaneous Publications Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 146, 1–43.
Carleton, M.D. & Musser, G.G. (1989) Systematic studies of oryzomine rodents (Muridae, Sigmodontinae): a synopsis of Microryzomys. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 191, 1–83.
Dempster, A.P., Laird, N.M. & Rubin, D.B. (1977) Maximum likelihood estimation from incomplete data via the EM algorithm. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, 39, 1–38.
D’Elía, G. (2003) Phylogenetics of Sigmodontinae (Rodentia, Muroidea, Cricetidae), with special reference to the akodont group, and with additional comments on historical biogeography. Cladistics, 19, 307–323.
D’Elía, G. & Pardiñas, U.F.J. (2004) Systematics of Argentinean, Paraguayan, and Uruguayan Swamp Rats of the genus Scapteromys (Rodentia, Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae). Journal of Mammalogy, 85, 897–910.
D’Elía, G., Pardiñas, U.F.J. & Myers, P. (2005) An introduction to the genus Bibimys (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae): Phylogenetic position and alpha taxonomy. In: Lacey, E. & Myers, P. (Eds.), Mammalian diversification in the Neotropics: from chromosomes to phylogeography (a celebration of the career James L. Patton). University of California Publication on Zoology, Vol. 133, Berkeley, California, pp. 211–246.
Ellis, B.A., Mills, J.N., Glass, G.E., Mckee Jr, K.T., Enria, D.A. & Childs, J.E. (1998) Dietary habits of the common rodents in an agroecosystem in Argentina. Journal of Mammalogy, 79, 1203–1220.
Emmons, L.H. (1999) Two new species of Juscelinomys (Rodentia:Muridae) from Bolivia. American Museum Novitates, 3280, 1–15.
Fonseca, G.A.B., Rylands, A.B., Costa, C.M.R., Machado, R.B. & Leite, Y.L.R. (1994) Livro Vermelho dos Mamíferos Brasileiros Ameaçados de Extinção. Fundação Biodiversitas, Belo Horizonte, 459 pp.
Gonçalves, P.R., Oliveira, J.A., Oliveira, M.C. & Pessôa, L.M. (2005) Morphological and cytogenetic analyses of Bibimys labiosus (Winge, 1887) (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae): implications for its affinities with the scapteromyine group. In: Lacey, E. & Myers, P. (Eds.), Mammalian diversification in the Neotropics: from chromosomes to phylogeography (a celebration of the career James L. Patton). University of California Publication on Zoology, Vol. 133, Berkeley, California, pp. 175–209.
Gottsberger, G. & Morawetz, W. (1986) Floristic, structural and phytogeographical analysis of the savannas of Humaitá (Amazonas). Flora, 178, 41–71.
Hershkovitz, P. (1966) South American swamp and fossorial rats of the scapteromyine group (Cricetinae, Muridae) with comments on the glans penis in murid taxonomy. Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, 31, 81–149.
Hershkovitz, P. (1994) The description of a new species of South American hocicudo, or long-nose mouse, genus Oxymycterus (Sigmodontinae, Muroidea) with a critical review of the generic content. Fieldiana, Zoology, New Series, 79, 1–43.
Hershkovitz, P. (1998) Report on some sigmodontine rodents collected in southeastern Brazil with descriptions of a new genus and six new species. Bonner Zoologische Beiträge, 47, 193–256.
Ibañez, C., Cabot, J. & Anderson, S. (1994). New records of Bolivian mammals in the collection of the Estación Biológica de Doñana. Doñana, Acta Vertebrata, 21, 79–83.
Ibisch, P.L., Reichle, S., Columba, K., Vides, R. & Justiniano, H. 2002.Conservation and sustainable development plan for the dry Chiquitano forest, cerrado and Bolivian pantanal: abridged version. Foundation for the Conservation of the Chiquitano Forest. Editorial FAN, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Available from: http://www.fcbcinfo.org/eng/pcds/pcds_eng.pdf (accessed January 2007).
IUCN (2006). 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.iucnredlist.org (accessed January 2007).
Langguth, A., Limeira, V.L.A.G. & Franco, S. (1997) Novo catálogo do material-tipo da coleção de mamíferos do Museu Nacional. Publicações Avulsas do Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, 70, 1–29.
Lichtenstein, H. (1830) (1827-1834). Darstellung neuer oder wenig bekannter Saugethiere, 7, 1–33 (PI. xxxiii).
Marinho-Filho, J., Rodrigues, F.H.G. & Guimarães, M. (1998) Vertebrados da Estação Ecológica de Águas Emendadas: história natural e ecologia em um fragmento de cerrado do Brasil Central. SEMAM/IBAMA, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 92 pp.
Mathworks. 1994. Matlab reference guide. The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, Massachusetts. 35 pp.
Miranda, J.A., Nunes, A.P., Oliveira, L.F.B. & Mattevi, M.S. (1999) The karyotype of the South American rodent Kunsia tomentosus (Lichtenstein, 1830). Cytobios, 98, 137–147.
Miranda Ribeiro, A. (1914) História Natural, Zoologia, Mamíferos. Comissão de linhas telegráficas estratégicas de Mato Grosso ao Amazonas, 13, Anexo no 5, pp. 37–39.
MMA - Ministério do Meio Ambiente (1998) Ações prioritárias para a conservação da biodiversidade do Cerrado e Pantanal. Ministério do Meio Ambiente, Funatura, Conservation International, Fundação Biodiversitas and Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal. Available from: http://www.bdt.fat.org.br/workshop/cerrado/br/ (accessed February 2006).
MMA - Ministério do Meio Ambiente (2003) Lista nacional das espécies da fauna brasileira ameaçadas de extinção. Ministério do Meio Ambiente. Available from: http://www.mma.gov.br (accessed February 2006).
Musser, G.G. & Carleton, M.D. (2005) Subfamily Sigmodontinae. In: Wilson, D.E. & Reeder, D.M. (Eds.), Mammal species of the world - a taxonomic and geographic reference, third edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Washington D.C. and London, pp. 1086–1185.
Nowak, R.M. (1999) Walker’s mammals of the world, sixth edition. Vol. I and II. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015 pp.
Papavero, N. (1971) Essays on the history of neotropical dipterology, with special reference to collectors (1750-1905). Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, 1, 216 pp.
Projeto RADAMBRASIL (1978) Levantamento de Recursos Naturais. Folha SC. 20 – Porto Velho. Rio de Janeiro: Ministério das Minas e Energia, DNPM.
Projeto RADAMBRASIL (1979) Levantamento de Recursos Naturais. Folha SD. 20 – Guaporé. Rio de Janeiro, Ministério das Minas e Energia, DNPM.
Reis, S.F., Pombal Jr., J.P., Nessimian, J.L. & Pessôa, L.L. (1996) Altitudinal distribution and feeding habits of Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Rodentia: Muridae). Zeitschrift für Säugetirkunde, 61, 253–255.
Ribeiro, J.F. & Walter, B.M.T. (1998) Fitofisionomias do bioma Cerrado. In: Sano, S.M. & Almeida, S.P. (Eds.), Cerrado: ambiente e flora. EMBRAPA - CPAC, Planaltina, Distrito Federal, pp. 89–166.
Rodrigues, F.H.G., Silveira, L., Jácomo, A.T.A., Carmignotto, A.P., Bezerra, A.M.R., Coelho, D., Garbogini, H., Pagnozzi, J. & Hass, A. (2002) Composição e Caracterização da Fauna de Mamíferos do Parque Nacional das Emas, Goiás. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 19, 589–600.
Santos-Filho, M., Silva, M.N.F. & Silva, D.J. (2001) Ocorrência da espécie Kunsia tomentosus (Lichtenstein, 1830), (Mammalia, Rodentia) em Unidade de Conservação. III Simpósio Sobre Recursos Sócios Econômicos do Pantanal Um Desafio do Novo Milênio. EMBRAPA, Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul. Available from: http://www.cpap.embrapa.br/agencia/congresso/Bioticos/SANTOSFILHO-047.pdf (accessed February 2006).
Smith, M.F. & Patton, J.L. (1999) Phylogenetic relationships and the radiation of sigmodontine rodents in South America: Evidence from cytochrome b. Journal Mammalian Evolution, 6, 89–128.
Suarez, O.V. & Bonaventura, S.M. (2001) Habitat use and diet in sympatric species of rodents of the low Paraná delta, Argentina. Mammalia, 65, 167–176.
Talamoni, A.S., Couto, D., Garcia Lopes, M.O. & Cordeiro Jr., D.A. (1999) Dieta de algumas espécies de pequenos mamíferos do sudeste brasileiro. Bios, 7, 51–56
Voss, R.S. (1988) Systematics and ecology of Ichthyomyine rodents (Muroidea): patterns of morphological evolution in a small adaptive radiation. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 188, 259–493.
Voss, R.S. (1991) An introduction to the Neotropical muroid rodent genus Zygodontomys. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 210, 1–113.
Voss, R.S. & Myers, P. (1991) Pseudoryzomys simplex (Rodentia: Muridae) and the significance of Lund’s collections from the caves of Lagoa Santa, Brazil. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 206, 414–432.
Winge, H. (1887) Jordfundne og nulevende Gnavere (Rodentia) fra Lagoa Santa, Minas Geraes, Brasilien. E Museo Lundii, 1, 1–178 + 18 pls.