The genus nameEuryzygomatomys derives from the threeAncient Greek wordsεὐρύς (eurús, oreury), meaning "wide, or which extends in width",ζύγωμα orζύγωματος (zúgōma, zúgōmatos), meaning "a part of the forehead, or the zygomatic bone", andμῦς (mûs), meaning "mouse, rat".[3][4]
Euryzygomatomys is the sister genus toClyomys. Both taxa are closely related to the genusTrinomys.In turn, these three genera — forming the clade ofEuryzygomatomyinae — share phylogenetic affinities with a clade containingCarterodon and members of the familyCapromyidae.
Analyses of craniodental characters proposed thatEuryzygomatomys — and alsoClyomys — may be associated withCarterodon.[5][6]However, molecular data suggest thepolyphyly of this assemblage of fossorial genera.[7]
Genus-level cladogram of the Euryzygomatomyinae with their relationship toCarterodon and Capromyidae.
The cladogram has been reconstructed from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA characters.[8][9][10][11][12][7] According to this phylogenetic tree, thefossorial generaEuryzygomatomys,Clyomys, andCarterodon constitute a polyphyletic assemblage (red bar).
^Galewski, Thomas; Mauffrey, Jean-François; Leite, Yuri L. R.; Patton, James L.; Douzery, Emmanuel J. P. (2005). "Ecomorphological diversification among South American spiny rats (Rodentia; Echimyidae): a phylogenetic and chronological approach".Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.34 (3):601–615.Bibcode:2005MolPE..34..601G.doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.11.015.PMID15683932.
^Upham, Nathan S.; Patterson, Bruce D. (2012). "Diversification and biogeography of the Neotropical caviomorph lineage Octodontoidea (Rodentia: Hystricognathi)".Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.63 (2):417–429.Bibcode:2012MolPE..63..417U.doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2012.01.020.PMID22327013.
^Fabre, Pierre-Henri; Galewski, Thomas; Tilak, Marie-ka; Douzery, Emmanuel J. P. (2013-03-01). "Diversification of South American spiny rats (Echimyidae): a multigene phylogenetic approach".Zoologica Scripta.42 (2):117–134.doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2012.00572.x.ISSN1463-6409.
^Upham, Nathan S.; Patterson, Bruce D. (2015). "Evolution of Caviomorph rodents: a complete phylogeny and timetree for living genera". In Vassallo, Aldo Ivan; Antenucci, Daniel (eds.).Biology of caviomorph rodents: diversity and evolution. Buenos Aires: SAREM Series A, Mammalogical Research — Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamíferos. pp. 63–120.
