Range extension of Thomasomys princeps (Thomas, 1895) (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae) and first record in Venezuela

Abstract

Thomasomys princeps (Thomas, 1895) is a large, sigmodontine rat and a member of the “aureus” group of the highly diverse genus Thomasomys. This species is only known from the Cordillera Oriental, Colombia; however, based on a recent examination of specimens of Thomasomys from Venezuela, I report the first record of T. princeps from Venezuela, in the Páramo del Tamá near the Colombian border. This record extends the distributional range of the species by 360 km northeast, representing the northernmost record of the species and of the “aureus” group.

Keywords

• “Thomasomys aureus group”
• Colombia
• Cordillera Or