Delicate salt flat mouse

 ( Mammals Of Argentina ) 

The delicate salt flat mouse

( Salinomys delicatus; ) is a Sigmodontinae rodent species in the family Cricetidae from South America. It is the monotypic taxon in the genus Salinomys. Its habitat is bordering Dry lake (such as those of the Salinas Grandes) in the Monte Desert area of central western Argentina at elevations around 400 m. The closest relatives of the species are the chaco mice ( Andalgalomys).Steppan, S.J.; Ramirez, O.; Banbury, J.; et al. 2007. A molecular reappraisal of the systematics of the leaf-eared mice Phyllotis and their relatives. In: Kelt, D.A., E.P. Lessa, J. Salazar-Bravo & J.L. Patton (eds.), The Quintessential Naturalist: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Oliver P. Pearson. University of California Publications in Zoology. Volume 134, pp. 799–826. University of California Press, Berkeley. http://escholarship.org/uc/item/9g62053v#page-812

---

Karyotype

Its karyotype has Diploid = 18 and FN = 32 in females but has 2n = 19 in males. Due to an X chromosome-autosome translocation, S. delicatus has an XY₁Y₂ sex chromosome system, rare in mammals. During meiotic prophase, a male's X and two Y chromosomes form a trivalent. The female value of 18 is the lowest diploid number of any species in the tribe Sigmodontinae. Given that close relative Andalgalomys pearsoni has the highest known diploid number (78) of the tribe, it appears that major chromosome restructuring occurred during the evolution of the Andalgalomys- Salinomys clade.

---

Conservation status

While not formally assessing its conservation status, the IUCN has stated, "This species occurs in a very narrow range of ecological requirements (salt flats) which are severely fragmented and which could be threatened by human disturbance."

Categories: Mammals Of Argentina, Phyllotini, Mammals Described In 1995

Post Comment