Ctenomys maulinus, Philippi, 1872

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Ctenomyidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 498-534 : 530

50.

Maule Tuco-tuco

Ctenomys maulinus

French: Tuco-tuco du Maule / German: Maule-Kammratte / Spanish: Tuco tuco de Maule

Taxonomy. Ctenomys maulinus Philippi, 1872 ,

“D. Toribio Medina.” Restricted by W. H. Osgood in 1943 to “Laguna de Maule, Talca province, Chile, ca. 36°00’ S, 70°30’ W.”

Based on biogeography, C . maulinus belongs in the Chilean group, being completely isolated in mtDNA analysis. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 26 and FN = 48, and sperm is asymmetrical. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

C.m.maulinusPhilippi,1872—CChile(TalcaProvince,MauleRegion).

C. m. brunneus Osgood, 1943 — C Chile (Cautin and Malleco provinces, La Araucania Region), at 1000-2000 m altitude.

Also recorded in Nuble Province (Bio Bio Region, Chile) and in Neuquén and Rio Negro provinces (Argentina), but subspecies involved not known.

Descriptive notes. Total length ranges from 275 mm (nominate maulinus ) to 305 mm (brunneus). No specific data are available for body weight. The Maule Tuco-tuco is medium-sized. Dorsum of the nominate maulinus is light brown, and tail shows short white pencil at tip. Subspecies brunneusis richer and darker brown;tail is brown above and pale buffy below, with buffy white pencil at tip. Skull has a persistent frontoparietal fontanelle and large flat interorbital space. Postorbital processes are imperceptible, and auditory bullae are short and swollen in the nominate form but more elongate and narrower in brunneus.

Habitat. Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae) and Araucaria (Araucariaceae) woodlands and open areas with volcanic sands at elevations of 900-2000 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. The Maule Tuco-tuco breeds in only one season.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Maule Tuco-tuco is solitary and aggressive. Density averages 65 ind/ha.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Bidau (2015), Feito & Gallardo (1976, 1982), Gallardo (1979, 1991), Gallardo & Anrique (1991), Mann (1978), Osgood (1943).

Figures

44. Peruvian Tuco-tuco (Cienomys peruanus), 45. White-toothed Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys leucodon), 46. Maria Farell’s Tuco-tuco Ctenomys (“ mariafarelli’), 47. Black-backed Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys dorsalis), 48. Paraguayan Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys paraguayensis), 49. Pilar Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys pilarensis), 50. Maule Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys maulinus), 51. Bonetto’s Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys bonettoi), 52. Puntlla Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys coludo), 53. Famatina Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys famosus), 54. Foch’s Tuco-tuco (Clenomys fochi), 55. Jujuy Tuco-tuco (Clenomys juris), 56. Catamarca Tuco-tuco (Clenomys knight), 57. Robust Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys tuconax), 58. Monte Tuco-tuco (Cienomys viperinus), 59. Santa Fe Tuco-tuco Ctenomys (“ yolandae’), 60. Azara’s Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys azarae), 61. Cordoba Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys bergi), 62. San Juan Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys johannis), 63. Osvaldo Reig’s Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys osvaldoreigi), 64. Brown Tuco-tuco (Citenomys pontifex), 65. Rosendo Pascual’s Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys rosendopascuali), 66. Sierra Tontal Tuco-tuco (Clenomys tulduco), 67. Guaymallen Tuco-tuco (Clenomys validus), 68. Emilio’s Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys emilianus), 69. Colonial Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis)

Subspecies and Distribution. C.m.maulinusPhilippi,1872—CChile(TalcaProvince,MauleRegion). C. m. brunneus Osgood, 1943 — C Chile (Cautin and Malleco provinces, La Araucania Region), at 1000-2000 m altitude. Also recorded in Nuble Province (Bio Bio Region, Chile) and in Neuquén and Rio Negro provinces (Argentina), but subspecies involved not known.