A new species of the genus Microcavia (Rodentia, Caviidae)

Abstract

Based on qualitative and quantitative morphological evidence, we describe a new species of Microcavia (Rodentia, Caviidae). The new species is characterized by a unique combination of morphological traits, that distinguished it from all others within the genus (i. e., upper incisors moderately proodont; palatal crest low, narrow anteriorly and expanded posteriorly; paraorbital process of the jugal small; sphenopalatine vacuities small, with their anterior border located behind the anterior half of the mesopterygoid fossa). The new species seems to be endemic from northwestern Argentina, where it occurs in open shrublands and grasslands >3,100 masl. With the description of this taxon, there are already four species of Microcavia that are distributed in the central Andes.

Late-Holocene environmental conditions revealed by a small mammal assemblage in mountain areas of Northwestern Argentina

“…Our conclusions would not have been possible without the noteworthy increase in knowledge on taxonomy, distribution, ecological requirements and fossil record of small mammals of the region in recent years, which begins to show general trends on the evolution of these communities in the Quaternary and their close connection with the environmental changes (e.g. d 'Hiriart et al, 2015'Hiriart et al, , 2017'Hiriart et al, , 2021a'Hiriart et al, , 2021bGomez et al, 2012;Guilardi et al, 2020;Jayat et al, 2007Jayat et al, , 2008aJayat et al, , 2008bJayat et al, , 2010Jayat et al, , 2011Jayat et al, , 2016Jayat et al, , 2017Jayat et al, , 2018Jayat et al, , 2020Jayat et al, , 2021Nanni et al, 2012;Ortiz et al, 2000Ortiz et al, , 2011aOrtiz et al, , 2011bOrtiz et al, , 2019Ortiz andJayat, 2007a, 2012;Ortiz and Pardiñas, 2001;Ortiz-Tempel et al, 2022;Teta et al, 2011Teta et al, , 2013Teta et al, , 2022Teta et al, , 2023. Nevertheless, although several Quaternary small mammal assemblages were described for NWA from different periods, our knowledge about short-, medium-, and long-term changes in these communities is still incipient.…”