A new record of Calassomys apicalis (Rodentia, Cricetidae) in the Espinhaço Mountain Range, Brazil

Abstract

We present herein the record of the monotypic sigmodontine Calassomys apicalis Pardiñas, Lessa, Salazar-Bravo and Câmara 2014 in the Brazilian Cerrado, based on two adult male specimens collected in a rocky outcrops area (campo rupestre) in southern portion of Espinhaço Mountain Range, in May and June 2016. This taxon was previously known only from the type locality at Parque Nacional das Sempre Vivas, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The fecal analysis of the specimens collected in this study indicates a diversified diet with the consumption of arthropods and vegetative parts of plants in different proportions, being this the first record about the feeding habits of this species.

Testis structure, duration of spermatogenesis and daily sperm production in four wild cricetid rodent species (A. cursor, A. montensis, N. lasiurus, and O. nigripes)

“…As a consequence, changes have occurred in the natural habitats and species diversity [25], which can favor generalist and opportunistic species to increase their densities and dispersion, as well as increasing the number of agricultural pests and changing the natural prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in wild reservoirs [26][27][28]. Moreover, the wild rodents herein investigated are classified as opportunistic species and reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens [2,[29][30][31][32][33][34]; understanding their reproductive behavior is very useful to develop conservation management strategies. For instance, the evaluation of reproductive organs in different species allows a better comprehension of distinct reproductive strategies and physiological specificities related to each species [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42].…”

Ficha de Calassomys apicalis

“…Endêmica do Brasil: Sim A espécie foi registrada na Serra do Espinhaço, no estado de Minas Gerais, em elevações entre 1.100 e 1.450 m Pardiñas & Patton, 2015;Oliveira et al, 2017).…”

“…Porém, outras condicionantes devem ser consideradas para o devido enquadramento. Análises fecais indicam que a espécie consome artrópodes (principalmente Isoptera e Hymenoptera), partes vegetativas de plantas (folhas e caules) e flores (Oliveira et al, 2017).…”

“…A espécie pode ser encontrada em campos rupestres da Serra do Espinhaço acima de 1.000 m de altitude, em áreas de campos abertos e áreas próximas a cursos d'água com vegetação arbustiva no entorno , Oliveira et al, 2017.…”

“…Não há informações sobre tendência populacional da espécie, porém aparenta ser uma espécie rara, conhecida de poucos indivíduos e 3 localidades , sendo o registro mais recente de 2017 (Oliveira et al, 2017).…”