Delicate salt flat mouse
The delicate salt flat mouse[2] (Salinomys delicatus; Spanish: el ratón delicado de los salares[3]) is a sigmodontine rodent species in the family Cricetidae from South America. It is the only species in the genus Salinomys.[4] Its habitat is scrublands bordering salt flats (such as those of the Salinas Grandes) in the Monte Desert area of central western Argentina at elevations around 400 m.[1][5] The closest relatives of the species are the chaco mice (Andalgalomys).[6]
Delicate salt flat mouse | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Cricetidae |
Subfamily: | Sigmodontinae |
Genus: | Salinomys Braun & Mares, 1995 |
Species: | S. delicatus |
Binomial name | |
Salinomys delicatus Braun & Mares, 1995 | |
Karyotype
Its karyotype has 2n = 18 and FN = 32 in females[7] but has 2n = 19 in males.[8] Due to an X-autosome translocation, S. delicatus has an XY1Y2 sex chromosome system, rare in mammals.[8] During meiotic prophase, a male's X and two Y chromosomes form a trivalent.[8] The female value of 18 is the lowest diploid number of any species in the tribe Phyllotini. Given that close relative Andalgalomys pearsoni has the highest known diploid number (78) of the tribe, it appears that major chromosome restructuring occurred during the evolution of the Andalgalomys-Salinomys clade.[8]
Conservation status
While not formally assessing its conservation status, the IUCN has stated, "This species occurs in a very narrow range of ecological requirements (salt flats) which are severely fragmented and which could be threatened by human disturbance."[1]
References
- Pardinas, U.; Jayat, J. (2019). "Salinomys delicatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T136228A22335800. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T136228A22335800.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- Lanzone, C.; Braun, J. K. (9 March 2015). Patton, J. L.; Pardiñas, U. F. J.; D’Elía, G. (eds.). Mammals of South America, Volume 2: Rodents. University of Chicago Press. pp. 555–556. ISBN 978-0226169606. OCLC 921432000.
- Rodríguez, Daniela; Lanzone, Cecilia; Chillo, Verónica; Cuello, Pablo A; Albanese, Soledad; Ojeda, Agustina A; Ojeda, Ricardo A (2012). "Natural history of a rare rodent of the Argentinean desert, Salinomys delicatus (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae)". Revista chilena de historia natural (in Spanish). 85 (1): 13–27. doi:10.4067/S0716-078X2012000100002. hdl:11336/154555. ISSN 0716-078X.
- Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1172. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- Braun, Janet K.; Mares, Michael A. (May 1995). "A new genus and species of phyllotine rodent (Rodentia: Muridae: Sigmodontinae: Phyllotini) from South America". Journal of Mammalogy. American Society of Mammalogists. 76 (2): 504–521. doi:10.2307/1382359. JSTOR 1382359.
- Steppan, S.J.; Ramirez, O.; Banbury, J.; et al. 2007. A molecular reappraisal of the systematics of the leaf-eared mice Phyllotis and their relatives. In: Kelt, D.A., E.P. Lessa, J. Salazar-Bravo & J.L. Patton (eds.), The Quintessential Naturalist: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Oliver P. Pearson. University of California Publications in Zoology. Volume 134, pp. 799–826. University of California Press, Berkeley. http://escholarship.org/uc/item/9g62053v#page-812
- Lanzone, C.; Ojeda, R. A.; Albanese, S.; Rodríguez, D.; Dacar, M. (2005). "Karytypic characterization and new geographical record of Salinomys delicatus (Rodenta, Cricetidae, Sigmodoninae)" (PDF). Mastozoología Neotropical. 12 (2): 257–260. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
- Lanzone, C.; Rodríguez, D.; Cuello, P.; Albanese, S.; Ojeda, A.; Chillo, V.; Martí, D. A. (2011). "XY1Y2 chromosome system in Salinomys delicatus (Rodentia, Cricetidae)". Genetica. 139 (9): 1143–1147. doi:10.1007/s10709-011-9616-7. hdl:11336/150390. ISSN 0016-6707.