| Calassomys | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Sigmodontinae |
| Tribe: | Phyllotini |
| Genus: | Calassomys Pardiñas,Lessa,Teta,Salazar-Bravo &Câmara, 2014 |
| Species: | C. apicalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Calassomys apicalis Pardiñas, Lessa, Teta, Salazar-Bravo & Câmara, 2014 | |
Calassomys apicalis is the onlyspecies of thegenusCalassomys, arodent in thefamilyCricetidae. It lives in the east ofSouth America.
This species was originally described, at the same time as its genus, in 2014 by thezoologistsUlyses F. J. Pardiñas,Gisele Lessa,Pablo Teta,Jorge Salazar-Bravo andEdeltrudes M. V. C. Câmara.[1]
Thetype locality is located 3.25 km northeast of Macacos, Pedreira do Gaio, in the state ofMinas Gerais,Brazil.[1]
Theholotype is catalogued as MCN / PUC-MG 2785, an adult male (clase desgaste dental 3) (dental wear class 3) of which its skull, part of its postcranial skeleton, and skin (in good condition) have been preserved. Karyotype, suspended cells and tissues were preserved in alcohol. It was collected by E. Câmara and C. Guimarães Costa in November, 2006.[1]
Etymologically, the generic nameCalassomys is aneponym referring to A. Calaça de Espírito Santo, the father of one of the authors (Edeltrudes M. V. C. Câmara).[1]
The specific nameapicalis is derived fromLatin and alludes to the animal's characteristic white-tipped tail.[1]
It is possible to differentiate this rodent by several characteristics, such as its elongated tail, in which the distal 2.5 to 5 cm are entirely white. Its skull has a domed profile with a long face, and notably small molars. Small, vestigialmesolophs and mesostyles are found on the upper first and second molars (a unique feature within Phyllotini).[1]
Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear and mitochondrial molecular markers showed that this taxon is the sister of the remaining genera of the tribe Phyllotini[2][3] indicating that its diversity has expanded towards the northeast, and that an ancient tribal diversification event occurred in eastern Brazil.
This species of rodent isendemic to easternBrazil, and specifically theEspinhaço Mountains, inSempre Vivas National Park, at altitudes greater than 1000m above sea level.
