New species of the Spiny Mouse genus Neacomys (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) from northwestern Ecuador.

ABSTRACT: Neacomys is a genus of small spiny or bristly sigmodontine rodents that are common components of mammalian faunas in multiple biomes on Central and South America. Recent studies on this group have demonstrated that there is cryptic diversity yet to be discovered within currently recognized species that have not received comprehensive revisions, as well as in areas that have been overlooked. Here we ratify this assertion by describing a new species previously misidentified as the Narrow-footed Spiny Mouse (Neacomystenuipes) from the Chocó biogeographic region in northwestern Ecuador, Neacomysmarci Brito & Tinoco, sp. nov. Distinctiveness of this entity is supported by the combination of the following morphological characters: small size (head-body length 65-85 mm

SUBMITTER: Tinoco N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10450456 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature