Fossorial giant rat

The fossorial giant rat (Gyldenstolpia fronto) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae[2]. It is found in Argentina and Brazil but was determined extinct following a recent assessment of the conservation status of Sigmodontine rodents.[3] Its natural habitat is assumed to be dry savanna, but there have been no ecological details reported.[4]

Fossorial giant rat
Illustration

Critically endangered, possibly extinct  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Sigmodontinae
Genus: Gyldenstolpia
Species:
G. fronto
Binomial name
Gyldenstolpia fronto
(Winge, 1888)
Synonyms
  • Kunsia fronto (Winge, 1888)

Taxonomy

Gyldenstolpia fronto is one of two species in the genus Gyldenstolpia. The other, smaller, species in the genus is G. planaltensis. In 2009, Gyldenstolpia fronto chacoensis and G. fronto fronto were acknowledge by Pardinãs, D'Elía, and Teta as two subspecies of G. fronto.[4]

It was previously considered part of the genus Kunsia but is now recognized in the genus Gyldenstolpia, a subset of Sigmodontine rodents known only from a few fossils and recent specimens found in central South America.[4] Gyldenstolpia fronto (G. fronto) and Gyldenstolpia planaltensis (G. planaltensis) are the only species comprising the genus Gyldenstolpia. They are relatively large in relation to other sigmodontines. Gyldenstolpia fronto is the larger of the two and displays a semi-fossorial body plan.

Morphology

Members of genus Gyldenstolpia are morphologically similar to Scapteromys and Kunsia. Defining characteristics of G. fronto include a robust skull with a restricted interorbital region; rounded, somewhat hidden ears; thick bristle-like dorsal hair, small eyes, and a short tail relative to overall body length.[4]

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References
  1. Pardinas, U.; D'Elia, G.; Teta, P.; Patterson, B. (2018). "Gyldenstolpia fronto". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T11062A22388720. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  2. Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1122. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. Formoso, Anahí; Teta, Pablo (2019). "Richness, Endemism and Conservation of Sigmodontine Rodents in Argentina". Mastozoología Neotropical. 26 (1): 99–116. doi:10.31687/saremMN.19.26.1.0.17.
  4. Patton, James; Pardiñas, Ulyses; D'ELia, Guillermo (2015). Mammals of South America, Volume 2 Rodents. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 222–225. ISBN 978-0-226-16957-6.
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