Range extension of Cavia tschudii Fitzinger, 1867 (Mammalia: Caviidae) and first record in Catamarca, northwestern Argentina

Range extension of Cavia tschudii Fitzinger, 1867 (Mammalia: Caviidae) and first record in Catamarca, northwestern Argentina

Blog Article

We report the first record of the genus Cavia and the species Cavia tschudii (Rodentia, Caviidae) in Catamarca province, Weld-On Hinges northwestern Argentina, which represents a range extension of about 110 km southward for the species.The cranial and dental remains were recovered from an owl pellet sample found in eastern slopes of the Football - Shoes - Men Ambato range, at 1600 m elevation, in a highland grasslands-Chaco Serrano ecotone.According to the environmental continuity along the Ambato range, we suggest that the presence of C.tschudii in southernmost Catamarca and northern La Rioja province is likely.