Abstract

TETA, Pablo  and  LUCERO, Sergio O. ¿Cuántas especies del género Dasyprocta (Rodentia, Dasyproctidae) hay en la Argentina?. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2016, vol.23, n.1, pp.193-199. ISSN 0327-9383.

Argentina is said to support one or two species of the genus Dasyprocta, depending on the authors. In this paper we present a qualitative and quantitative morphological analysis of the status of this taxon at the southern end of its range (Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay). Principal component analysis, “size free” discriminant analysis, and differences in external coloration and in the cranial architecture suggest that individuals of Paraguay and northeastern Argentina (general coloration yellowish, nasofrontal suture usually W-shaped) represent one biological species, distinct from those of central Bolivia and northwestern Argentina (general coloration reddish, nasofrontal suture generally U-shaped). Given the limited number of individuals studied, resolution of the taxonomic status of populations in northwest Argentina with respect to those from central and southern Bolivia is subject to the results of further studies.

Keywords : Agouti; Caviomorpha; Histricognathi; Taxonomy.