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FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

FOUNDED BY MARSHALL FIELD, 1893

PUBLICATION 265
ZOOLOGICAL SERIES VOL. XVII, No. 4

THE LAND MAMMALS OF URUGUAY

ml l r
Uw-

BY

COLIN CAMPBELL SANBORN *my ;

ASSISTANT, DIVISION OF MAMMALS

WILFRED H. OSGOOD

CURATOR, DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
EDITOR

CHICAGO, U. S. A.
OCTOBER 24, 1929

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BY FIELD MUSEUM PRESS

V, '1
THE LAND MAMMALS OF URUGUAY

BY COLIN CAMPBELL SANBORN

The object of this paper is to bring together in workable reference
form all the known records of mammals from Uruguay and to report
on the collection made by the Captain Marshall Field Expedition
during its four month's stay in Uruguay in 1926 and 1927. No
complete zoological survey has ever been made in Uruguay. The
Captain Marshall Field Expedition intended to make one but was
able to cover only the southern half of the country. All work done
previously has been mainly local.

The first record of any mammal from Uruguay dates back to
the capture of a bat (Lasiurus borealis bonariensis) by one of the
officers of the "Coquille" in November, 1822. The first mammal
collector to work there was H. Sello who collected near Maldonado
in December, 1826 and January, 1827. His work resulted in the
discovery of three new species which were described by Lichtenstein.
Five years later, during the voyage of the "Beagle", Charles Darwin
spent some time about Maldonado and Montevideo, and his collect-
ing resulted in the discovery of a number of new species of mammals.
Burmeister visited Uruguay in 1857 and 1858, mainly along the
Uruguay River. He records the occurrence of certain species of
mammals but does not mention the capture of many. His published
papers relate mainly to the mammals of the La Plata region and
Argentina.

In 1890, Oldfield Thomas collected at Colon, near Montevideo,
but, aside from scattered mention of specimens, he published nothing
on his collections. Senor E. Budin, collecting for Thomas in 1924,
stopped near Mercedes, but nothing has been published on his
Uruguayan collection, which was probably not very large. For nine
months, during 1892 and 1893, 0. V. Aplin collected birds in the
departments of Soriano and Rio Negro for Dr. Sclater. He took but
few mammals although he records twenty-five species. Senor Juan
Tremoleras of Montevideo has collected a few specimens near his
city but has done no extensive work.

147

148 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII

The Captain Marshall Field Brazilian Expedition spent four
months, from October, 1926 to February, 1927, in the southern part
of Uruguay. The expedition covered about two thousand miles by
automobile truck, passing through eight departments and collecting
at twelve places. The total number of mammals collected was 345,
embracing thirty species. Besides these, 462 birds, 787 reptiles and
amphibians, and 4,000 fish were collected. Although the northern
half of the country is less thickly inhabited and probably more
interesting zoologically, the southern half was visited first to secure
topotypical material. It had been planned to cover the whole of
Uruguay, but circumstances prevented. It is hoped that the work
may be continued later in the northern part of the country, which
has as yet been untouched by mammal collectors.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank my various hosts for
their kind hospitality and to thank the Uruguayan national officials
and the many local police chiefs for their interest and help. Especial
thanks are due Mr. Enrique Estrazulas for his help and Mr. H. J.
Doyle, of Armour and Company, who provided letters of introduction
to many of his clients.

A brief description of localities follows:

Fifteen kilometers north of San Carlos, Department Maldonado.
Oct. 19-23, 1926. This region was open, rolling pasture land, dotted
here and there with Ombu trees or patches of thorny brush, and
with small swamps in the low places between the hills. The small
streams were narrowly fringed with brushy woods. Work was
carried on at the Estancia San Carlos, owned by Senor Nicolas
Alverez. Only a brief stay was made here as house rats were the
most numerous mammals.

Maldonado, Department Maldonado. Oct. 23- Nov. 2. Trapping
was done along the beach, just outside the town of Maldonado.
Large sand dunes were the common formation here but were cut by
small streams and patches of swamp which drained the country
behind them. The dunes have been planted with maritime pines by
Dr. Enrique Burnett, who by this means saved the town from being
buried in sand. Dr. Burnett allowed the party the use of his
beach cottage during their stay.

Arroyo Garzon, Department Rocha. Nov. 2-5. This part of the
country consisted of a range of high, rocky hills given over to sheep
raising. The streams were bordered by groves of small trees and
patches of swamp occurred here and there. The pasture was eaten

1929 MAMMALS OF URUGUAY SANBORN 149

down very close and the ground under the trees was bare. Rodents
were very scarce, but one being taken.

Fifteen miles north of San Vicente de Castillos, Department Rocha.
Nov. 8-17. Like the Arroyo Garzon, this locality was rocky, hilly,
sheep country, but there was a little more level land with large
forests of palm trees on the lower ground. Ten miles to the north
the country began to open out into more level pampas. While some
of the larger mammals were taken here, 8,000 sheep leave little
cover for small rodents.

Passo de las Avarias, Rio Cebollati, Department Minos. Nov.
20-24. The Cebollati at this point was bordered by a narrow strip
of fairly heavy woods about one hundred yards wide. Beyond the
woods were wheat fields and sheep pasture. The water rat (Holo-
chilus) was first met with here, but mice were scarce.

Eight miles east of Treinta y Tres, Department Treinta y Tres.
Nov. 25-Dec. 4. This locality, the Estancia Jeffries, was made up of
gently rolling hills given over to sheep and cattle raising. It was cut
by numerous streams and swamps, but woods, aside from eucalyptus
groves, were practically absent. As on other sheep ranches, mice
were scarce.

Quebrada de los Cuervos, 45 kilometers north of Treinta y Tres,
Department Treinta y Tres. Dec. 4-12. The Quebrada de los Cuervos
lay in a high, hilly, and rocky country with fair pasture and many
small swamps and streams. The Quebrada itself was a narrow canyon
between the hills, about three hundred feet deep, and a mile or a mile
and a half long. The sides, which were covered by small trees, brush,
and palms, were very steep and there were only two places where a
descent could be made safely. This class of terrain and its fauna
gave an idea of what might be expected in the more northern and
hilly departments.

Arroyo Polanco, Department Minas. Dec. 13-19. There were many
wheat fields here among the sheep pastures where mice and cavies
were plentiful in the grain shocks. The grain fields are the only
places in Uruguay where any satisfactory trapping can be done.
The Arroyo itself was a small stream bordered by willows and other
trees. This was as far inland as Darwin travelled during his work
in Uruguay.

Minas, Department Minas. Dec. 19-23. A short stop was made
at Minas to visit the Gruta de Arrequita or Gruta Colon, which lay

150 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII

in a large, rocky mesa, a few miles outside the town. The Grata
was a large cave in which there were many bats.

Arazati, Department San Jose. Jan. 7-12, 1927. Arazati, which
lay south of the town of Santa Eclida, was but a waste of low, brush-
covered, sand dunes on the edge of the La Plata River. These were
cut by swamps and streams which rose when the tide came in.
Mice were fairly common, but house rats more so.

Ten kilometers south of LaLata, Department Colonia. Jan. 14-18.
This locality was in another region df rolling wheat fields and sheep
pasture.

Fifteen miles southwest of Dolores, Department Soriano. Jan. 18-31.
Two camps were made here, one on the edge of a wheat field and the
other in the heavy, brushy woods on the banks of the Uruguay
River. This locality is the Estancia Concordia, a large tract of land
owned by an English company.

Passo Correntino, Rio Negro, Department Rio Negro. Feb. 4-8-
This part of the Rio Negro, which had a thin strip of woods along
its banks, ran through grazing land and wheat fields.

Didelphis paraguayensis Oken.

Didelphis paraguayensis OKEN, Lehrbuch d. Naturgesch., 3, Zool., pp. 1147-
1148, 1816.

This opossum was found to be fairly common for a medium-sized
animal. Four were shot in one night while we were hunting with a
head lamp. A large female contained twelve young, and a younger
female four very small young, in the pouches.

Specimens taken. Total 7: Maldonado 1; Quebrada de los
Cuervos, Dept. Treinta y Tres 1 (skull only) ; 10 miles south of La
Lata, Dept. Colonia 4; 15 miles southwest of Dolores, Dept. Soriano 1.

Other records. Didelphys azarae Waterhouse, 1839, p. 93;
Burmeister, 1861, p. 412; Aplin, 1894, p. 314; Figueira, 1894, p. 8.

Monodelphis dimidiata (Wagner).

Didelphys dimidiata WAGNER, Abhandl. math-phys. Cl. K. Bayer. Akad.
Wiss., Munchen, V., Iste Abth., p. 151, footnote, 1847.

One specimen was seen in the Museo Nacional de Montevideo,
taken in Montevideo. Darwin says that his example was caught
by some boys digging in a garden.

Other records. Didelphys brachyura Waterhouse, 1839, p. 97,
pi. 32; Didelphys brevicaudata Figueira, 1894, p. 1.

1929 MAMMALS OF URUGUAY SANBORN 151

Lutreolina crassicaudata paranalis Thomas.

Lutreolina crassicaudata paranalis THOMAS, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (9),
11, p. 584, 1923. Type from Las Rosas, Prov. Sante Fe, Argentina.

The only one seen was found dead in the road near Colonia
Suiza, in January, 1927. It was too badly crushed to save but
according to Thomas's geographic divisions, should be this sub-
species.

Other records. Didelphis crassicaudata Aplin, 1894, p. 315;
Figueira, 1894, p. 2 (either this or the next subspecies).

Lutreolina crassicaudata lutrilla Thomas.

Lutreolina crassicaudata lutrilla THOMAS, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (9),
11, p. 585, 1923.

Two young ones were caught in rat traps baited with meat,
placed on a bank along a small stream. After the first one was
taken, steel traps were set but no adults were caught.

Specimens taken. Total 2: Arroyo Polanco, Dept. Minas.

Other records. Didelphis crassicaudata Waterhouse, 1839, p. 94,
pi. 30, pi. 34, (skull) fig. 25.

Sturnira lilium (Geoffrey).

Phyllostoma lilium GEOFFBOY, Ann. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. Paris, 15, p. 181, 1810.

The only mention of this bat from Uruguay is by Figueira who
says, "Is common in all the Republic." He had no specimens in the
National Museum, however.

Myotis chiloensis alter Miller and Allen.

Myotis chiloensis alter MILLER AND ALLEN, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. No. 144, p.
194, 1928.

Many specimens of this bat were taken in the Gruta de Arrequita,
near the town of Minas. It was said that disturbances, caused by the
removal of guano and the many visitors that came to the cave had
driven most of the bats away, but there were still some hundreds
left there. Figueira states that Plecotus velatus is very common in
the cave, but whether it has been driven out and its place taken by
Myotis or whether it is a misidentification, is uncertain.

Specimens taken. Total 43: Gruta de Arrequita, Dept. Minas.

Myotis chiloensis dinellii Thomas.

Myotis dinellii THOMAS, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), 10, p. 493, 1902.

Miller and Allen (1928, p. 192.) mention one specimen from
Dept. Soriano and four others with no exact locality.

152 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII

Myotis ruber (E. Geoffrey).

Vesp (ertilio) ruber E. GEOFFROY, Ann. Mus. d'Hist. Nat., Paris, 8,
p. 204, 1806.

Myotis albescens (E. Geoffrey).

Vesp (ertilio) albescens E. GEOFFROY, Ann. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. Paris, 8, p.
204, 1806.

While there are no specimens of either of these bats from Uruguay,
both have been taken in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and M. albescens
in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on which grounds they are included in
this list. In the course of future collecting they will undoubtedly
be found to occur in Uruguay.

Myotis pilosus (Peters).

Vespertilio (Leuconoe) pilosus PETERS, Monatsber. K. Akad. Wiss. Berlin,
p. 403, 1869.

Only the type of this species is known and there appears to be
some doubt as to its having come from Montevideo. (See Miller
and Allen, 1928, p. 209).

Histiotus velatus (Is. Geoffrey).

Plecotus velatus Is. GEOFFROY, Ann. Sci. Nat., p. 446, 1824.

Figueira reported this bat as common in the Gruta de Arrequita.
(See Myotis c. alter).

Histiotus montanus (Philippi).

Vespertilio montanus PHILIPPI, Wiegm. Archiv., p. 289, 1861.

Aplin's specimen is apparently the only record for this species in
Uruguay. (See Thomas, 1916, p. 274).

Lasiurus borealis bonariensis Less, and Garnot.

Vespertilio bonariensis LESS. AND GARNOT, Voyage autor du Monde, 1, p.
137; Atlas, pi. ii, fig. 1, 1827.

Figueira's record appears to be the only recent one for Uruguay
(1894, p. 26). Thomas records it from Paraguay (1901, p. 435).
I secured two specimens from Senor Juan Heider of Misiones,
Argentina, who took them near his home at Monte Carlo on the
Parana River.

Tadarida brasiliensis (Is. Geoffrey).

Nyctinomus brasiliensis Is. GEOFFROY, Ann. des Sci. Nat., p. 343, 1824.

1929 MAMMALS OF URUGUAY SANBORN 153

One of the commonest bats in Uruguay. Large colonies were
found in the attic of the police station in Maldonado and in an old
building in Rocha.

Figueira (1894, p. 28) lists Nyctinomus macrotis nevadensis Allen,
but he had no specimens and gives no authority for the record. He
says, "This species is found in all the country, especially in the
departments of the north." If there is any basis for this record, it
might refer to Tadarida gracilis.

Specimens taken. Total 32: Maldonado 28; Rocha, Dept. Rocha
2; Arroyo Polanco, Dept. Minas 2.

Other Records. Dysopes nasutus Waterhouse, 1839, p. 6;
Dysopes naso Burmeister, 1861, p. 392; Nyctinomus brasiliensis
Figueira, 1894, p. 27.

Molossus currentium Thomas.

Molossus obscurus currentium THOMAS, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), 8,
p. 438, 1901. Type from Goya, Corrientes, Argentina.

One specimen was taken eight miles east of the town of Treinta
y Tres. This is the first record for Uruguay.

Eumops bonariensis (Peters).

Promops bonariensis PETERS, Monatsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, p. 232, 1874.
Type from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The specimen secured was caught with the preceding in one of
the buildings on a ranch in Treinta y Tres. Curiously enough, this
seems to be the first record for this species in Uruguay, although it
has been known from Buenos Aires for over fifty years.

Procyon cancrivorus nigripes Mivart.

Procyon cancrivorus nigripes MIVART, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 347, 1885.
Type from southeastern Brazil.

This animal was said to be rather scarce but it may be more
common in the northern departments. Skins were seen at Rocha
and the Quebrada de los Cuervos. The specimen secured was killed
by a dog early in the morning.

Specimens taken. Passo de las Avarias, Rio Cebollati, Dept.
Minas 1.

Other records. Procyon cancrivorus Aplin, 1894, p. 302; Figueira,
1894, p. 22.

154 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII

Nasua sp.

Said by Figueira to be found in the northern departments. A
man at the Quebrada de los Cuervos described a ring-tailed animal
to me that had been killed there, which may have been a Coati.

Record. Nasua narica Figueira, 1894, p. 21.

Lutra platensis Waterhouse.

Lutra platensis WATERHOUSE, Zool. Voyage Beagle, pt. 2, Mammalia, p. 21,
pi. 35, fig. 4 (skull), 1838.

No otters were seen or reported during the work in Uruguay.
Record. Lutra paranensis Figueira, 1894, p. 23.

Pteronura brasiliensis (Zimmerman).

Lutra brasiliensis ZIMMERMAN, Spec. Zool. Geog., p. 485, 1777.
Record. Lutra brasiliensis Aplin, 1894, p. 301.

Tayra barbara subsp.

Burmeister (1861, p. 409) gives the only record for this animal
in Uruguay.

Grisonella huronax Thomas.

Grisonella huronax THOMAS, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), 8, p. 213, 1921.
Type from Mar del Plata, Prov. Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Two specimens were purchased in the department of Soriano.
One was killed near Rocha a few days before I reached there but
the body could not be found.

Specimens taken. Total 2: 15 miles southwest of Dolores,
Dept. Soriano (1 skin only and 1 skull only).

Other records. Galictis vittata Waterhouse, 1838, p. 21; Aplin,
1894, p. 306; Figueira, 1894, p. 23.

Conepatus feuilleii (Eydoux and Souleyet).

Mephitis feuilleii EYDOUX AND SOULEYET, Zool. Voyage of the Bonite, 1, pp.
10-14, pi. 3, figs. 1-3, 1841. Type from near Montevideo.

The skunk is one of the commonest of the larger mammals in
Uruguay.

Specimens taken. Total 23: San Carlos, Dept. Maldonado 1;
15 miles north of San Vicente de Castillos, Dept. Rocha 3; Quebrada
de los Cuervos, Dept. Treinta y Tres 7; 10 kilometers south of La

1929 MAMMALS OF URUGUAY SANBORN 155

Lata, Dept. Colonia 5; 15 miles southwest of Dolores, Dept. Soriano
6; Passo Correntino, Dept. Rio Negro 1.

Other records. Mephitis suffocans Figueira, 1894, p. 22; Cone-
patus mapurito monzoni Aplin, 1894, p. 302.

Pseud alopex culpaeola Thomas.

Pseudalopex culpaeola THOMAS, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (8), 13, p. 359,
1914. Type from Santa Elena, Dept. Soriano, Uruguay.

Foxes were not very common, no doubt on account of the packs
of dogs kept at the ranches. Two specimens taken at Passo Corren-
tino, Rio Negro, are practically topotypes and as only the measure-
ments of the type have been published those for these two skulls are
listed below. Two skulls picked up at the Quebrada de los Cuervos
have been referred to this species though they are a little smaller.

Measurements. Condylo-basilar length 141.8, ; basilar length

131.1, ; zygomatic breadth 73.8, 77.3; interorbital constriction

24.6, 25.8; braincase 47.3, - -; palatal length 74.2, 73.9; nasals

58.7, 56.5; fourth upper premolar 13.7, 12.3; third and fourth upper
molars 17, 15.5.

Specimens taken. Total 4: Passo Correntino, Dept. Rio Negro
2; Quebrada de los Cuervos, Dept. Treinta y Tres 2 (skulls only).

Other records. Canis azarae Burmeister, 1861, p. 405; Aplin,
1894, p. 298; Figueira, 1894, p. 23.

Lycalopex entrerianus (Burmeister).

Cants enirerianus BURMEISTER, Reise durch die La Plata Staaten, 2, p. 400,
1861.

Four skins, said to have been taken in the department of Rocha,
and an odd skull from the Quebrada de los Cuervos, have been
referred to this species until more material for comparison can be
obtained.

Other records. Canis sp. Aplin, 1894, p. 299 (see Thomas, 1914,
p. 359, footnote).

Chrysocyon brachyutus (ifiiger).

Agouara-gouazou AZARA, Quad. Paraguay, 1, p. 307, 1801.

Canis brachyurw ILLIGER, Abhandl. K. Akad. Wiss. Berlin (1811), pp. 109,
121, 1815.

The only mention of this animal is by Figueira (1894, p. 24)
who says that it may be found in the northern and eastern depart-
ments.

156 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII

Felis geoffroyi D'Orbigny and Gervais.

Felis geoffroyi D'ORBIGNY AND GERVAIS, Bull. Soc. Philom, Paris, pp. 40-41
(seance 6 Mai), 1844; atlas, Voy. Amer. Merid., 9, pi. 13, fig. 1, pi. 14,
1844.

Apparently this is the only species of cat which still exists in
any numbers in Uruguay. A skin and skull were purchased in the
department of Soriano and an odd skull at the Quebrada de los
Cuervos.

Felis pajero and F. concolor are listed by Aplin and Figueira;
both are said to be scarce but might be found in the north. Figueira
also lists paraguensis, eyra, and yaguarondi, with the same remarks.

Akodon arenicola (Waterhouse).

Mus arenicola WATERHOUSE, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 18, Feb. 14, 1837;
Voy. Beagle, Zool., p. 48, pi. 13, pi. 34, figs. 7a, b, c, d. Type from
Maldonado.

This is the most common mouse in Uruguay. It was taken in
fields, woods, and swamps.

Specimens taken. Total 54: Maldonado 6; 15 miles north of
San Vicente de Castillos, Dept. Rocha 5; Passo de las Avarias, Rio
Cebollati, Dept. Minas 1; 8 miles east of Treinta y Tres 1; Polanco,
Dept. Minas 11: Arazati, Dept. San Jose 1; 10 kilometers south of
La Lata, Dept. Colonia 5; 15 kilometers southwest of Dolores, Dept.
Soriano 23; Mercedes, Dept. Rio Negro 1 (received in exchange
from British Museum).

Other records. Hesperomys arenicola, Figueira, 1894, p. 18;
Akodon arenicola, Thomas, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), 9, p.62,
1902.

Akodon obscurus (Waterhouse).

Mus obscurus WATERHOUSE, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 16, Feb. 14, 1837;
Voy. Beagle, Zool., p. 52, pi. 15, fig. 2, pi. 34, figs. 9a, b. Type from
Maldonado.

Akodon obscurus was found with A. arenicola but only towards
the eastern side of the country.

Specimens taken. Total 13: Maldonado 1; 15 miles north of
San Vicente de Castillos, Dept. Rocha 5; Polanco, Dept. Minas 7.

Other records. Hesperomys obscurus Figueira, 1894, p. 18;
Akodon obscurus, Thomas, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (9), 3, p. 214,
1919.

1929 MAMMALS OF URUGUAY SANBORN 157

Hesperomys bimaculatus (Waterhouse).

Mus Mmaculatus WATERHOUSE, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 18, Feb. 14,
1837; Voy. Beagle, Zool., p. 43, pi. 12, pi. 34, figs. 3a, b, c. Type from
Maldonado.

This mouse was rather scarce, only three specimens being taken,
one in a wheat field and two in some wooded country near the edge
of a river.

Specimens taken. Total 3: Passo de los Avarias, Rio Cebollati,
Dept. Minas 2; Polanco, Dept. Minas 1.

Other record. Figueira, 1894, p. 17.

Oryzomys flavescens (Waterhouse).

Mus flavescens WATERHOUSE, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 19, Feb. 14, 1837;
Voy. Beagle, Zool., p. 46, pi. 13, pi. 34, figs. 5a, b. Type from Maldonado.

This rodent was always found with the Akodons but was not so
common.

Specimens taken. Total 25: Maldonado 11; Quebrada de los
Cuervos, Dept. Treinta y Tres 3; 10 kilometers south of La Lata,
Dept. Colonia 2; 15 miles southwest of Dolores, Dept. Soriano 6;
Passo de las Avarias, Rio Cebollati, Dept. Minas 3.

Other record. Hesperomys flavescens Figueira, 1894, p. 17.

Oryzomys delticola Thomas.

Oryzomys delticola THOMAS, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Nist., (8), 20, p. 96, 1917.
Type from Isla Ella, Parana Delta, Argentina.

Six of the specimens taken were caught sixty miles up river from
the type locality and are referred to this species until comparison
with the type is possible.

Specimens taken. Total 10: 15 kilometers southwest of Dolores,
Rio Uruguay, Dept. Soriano 6 (3 skins and skulls, and 3 skulls
only) ; Passo de las Avarias, Rio Cebollati, Dept. Minas 2; Quebrada
de los Cuervos, Dept. Treinta y Tres 2.

Oxymycterus nasutus (Waterhouse).

Mus nasutus WATERHOUSE, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 16, Feb. 14, 1837;
Voy. Beagle, Zool., p. 56, pi. 17, fig. 2, pi. 33, figs. 7a, b, c, pi. 34, fig. lOa.
Type from Maldonado.

Most of the specimens taken were found near the coast. All
were caught in or near swamps or swampy ground, in traps baited
with cheese.

158 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII

Specimens taken. Total 7: Maldonado 5; 15 kilometers north
of San Carlos, Dept. Maldonado 1; Arazati, Dept. San Jose 1.

Other records. Hesperomys nasutus Figueira, 1894, p. 18.

Reithrodon typicus Waterhouse.

Reithrodon typicus WATERHOUSE, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 30, Feb. 14,
1837; Voy. Beagle, Zool., p. 71, pi. 33, fig. 4a. Type from Maldonado.

This mouse was not common but specimens were taken at four
widely separated localities. It was obtained in rocky hills, wheat
fields, and along the sandy coast.

Specimens taken. Total 7: 15 miles north of San Vicente de
Castillos, Dept. Rocha 1; Quebrada de los Cuervos, Dept. Treinta
y Tres 2; Polanco, Dept. Minas 3; Arazati, Dept. San Jose 1.

Other records. Figueira, 1894, p. 18.

Holochilus vulpinus (Lichtenstein).

Mus vulpinus LICHTENSTEIN, in Brants' Het. Geslacht. d. Muizen, pp. 137-
138, 1827; Darstellung, Tafel 33, fig. 2, 1827. Type from Uruguay.

This rat was rather common along the Rio Cebollati and in
some marshes in Treinta y Tres. One was shot at night by shining
its eyes with a jack light.

Specimens taken. Total 9: Passo de las Avarias, Rio Cebollati,
Dept. Minas 4; 8 miles east of Treinta y Tres 5.

Scapteromys tomentosus (Lichtenstein).

Mus tomentosus LICHTENSTEIN, Darstellung, Tafel 33, fig. 1, 1827. Type
from Uruguay.

Scapteromys tumidus (Waterhouse).

Mus tumidus WATERHOUSE, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 15, 1837. Voy.
Beagle, Zool., p. 57, pi. 18, pi. 34, fig. lla. Type from Maldonado.

Although a good deal of trapping was done in swampy places
and near rivers, neither of these animals was caught. Of S. tomen-
tosus apparently only the type is known, and of S. tumidus the type
and one specimen collected by Aplin. As both of these species
have Maldonado for a type locality, it seems probable that more
specimens will show that tumidus is a synonym of tomentosus. Mr.
Thomas, in his description of S. aquaticus (Ann. and Mag. Nat.
Hist., 1920, (9), 5, p. 477), seems to hint at this in a footnote for
he states that "Prof. Matschie informs me that Sellow's collections

1929 MAMMALS OF URUGUAY SANBORN 159

were made near Maldonado." S. aquaticus appears to be much
more common as Mr. Thomas reports 23 specimens from the Isla
Ella, Parana Delta, Argentina.

Figueira mentions this animal but the specimens labeled Hes-
peromys tumidus which I saw in the Museo Nacional at Montevideo
were Holochilus vulpinus.

Ctenomys torquatus Lichtenstein.

Ctenomys torqttatus LICHTENSTEIN, Darstellung, Tafel 31, fig. 1, 1827. Type
from Uruguay River.

These animals were especially abundant in the sandy country
about Maldonado. They were easily shot by waiting near the hole
until one appeared. Even when shot at and missed, it was not
more than five minutes before the animal appeared again. They
come out on top of the ground at times, and, if frightened then,
become confused and dash about looking for a hole to escape by.
They are rather awkward above ground however. The call is a
deep throaty, "Tuco-tuco-tuco tuc."

One was caught by placing a slip noose over the hole and was
kept alive for a number of days. In digging it worked hand over
hand and pushed the dirt out behind it, using both feet at once
and raising the end of the body by pushing down with the tail.
This explained the worn places on the tails of the ones secured.
Some of the people eat these animals roasted.

Besides the localities where specimens were taken, holes were
seen at Arazati, Dept. San Jose. There are two specimens in the
Museo Nacional at Montevideo from the department of Tacuarembo.

Specimens taken. Total 17: Maldonado 15; 15 miles north of
San Vicente de Castillos, Dept. Rocha 2; Passo Mercedes, Dept.
Rio Negro 2 (received in exchange from British Museum).

Other records. Ctenomys brasiliensis Waterhouse, 1839, p. 79;
Aplin 1894, p. 308; Figueira, 1894, p. 16.

Cavia rufescens pamparum Thomas.

Cavia pamparum THOMAS, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (7), 8, p. 538, 1901.

Cavies are no doubt the commonest rodents in Uruguay, where
every swamp is filled with them. They caused much trouble as
they sprung the small mouse traps set in or near swamps for other
mammals. When roasted over the fire, the flesh has a very good
taste.

160 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII

Specimens taken. Total 23: Maldonado 13; Quebrada de los
Cuervos, Dept. Treinta y Tres 1; Polanco, Dept. Minas 6; Arazati,
Dept, San Jose 1; 15 miles southwest of Dolores, Dept. Soriano 2.

Other records. Cavia cobaia Waterhouse, 1839, p. 89; Cavia
aperea Aplin, 1894, p. 309; Cavia leucopyga Figueira, 1894, p. 15;
Cavia pamparum Thomas, 1901a, p. 536; Cavia rufescens pamparum
Thomas, 1917, p. 155.

Myocastor coypus bonariensis (Geoffroy).

Myopotamus bonariensis "Commerson MS," E. GEOFFROY, Ann. Mus. d'Hist.
Nat. Paris, 6, pp. 81-83, 1805.

Coypus have been so hunted for their fur that they are now
quite scarce in settled districts. I heard of many at the Laguna
Negra in Rocha but did not have a chance to visit there. At most
places the people said there were a few left where many had been.

Specimens taken. 15 miles southwest of Dolores, Dept. Soriano
2 juv.

Other records. Myopotamus coypu Aplin, 1894, p. 313; Figueira,
1894, p. 16.

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris notialis Hollister.

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris notialis HOLLISTER, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 27, p.
58, 1914.

Capybaras were quite plentiful in the rivers and swamps. In
hunting them at night with a jack light I found that the reflection
of their eyes was very similar to that of the nighthawk ( Hydropsalis
torquatafurcifera). Before discovering that the capybara's eye was
a dull yellow and the nighthawk's a bright, sparkling yellow, I
wasted shells on birds and let the animals escape.

Specimens taken. Total 2: Passo de las Avarias, Rio Cebollati,
Dept. Minas 1; Quebrada de los Cuervos, Dept. Treinta y Tres
1 (skull only).

Other records. Hydrochoerus capybara Waterhouse, 1839, p. 91;
Aplin, 1894, p. 309; Figueira, 1894, p. 15.

Mus musculus musculus Linnaeus.

Mus musculus LINNAEUS, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1, p. 62, 1758.

Rattus norvegicus (Erxleben).

Mus norvegicus ERXLEBEN, Syst. Regni. Anim., 1, p. 38, 1777.

Both of these rodents were only too plentiful in many places.
At the first camp, near Maldonado, there was almost nothing but

1929 MAMMALS OF URUGUAY SANBORN 161

house rats and they were met with everywhere else. On the Rio
Cebollati a man told me that his corn crib, placed in the middle
of an open field, was overrun with mice. With the traps I loaned
him he caught thirty-five house mice in one night.

Other records. Waterhouse, 1839; Aplin and Figueira, 1894.

Lepus europaeus europaeus Pallas.

Lepus europaeus PALLAS, Nov. Spec. Glir. Ord., p. 30, 1778.

The liebre is one of the commonest and most destructive rodents
in Uruguay. It was seen in all departments visited. At every
estancia, packs of dogs were kept to hold it in check. The dogs,
however, seemed to have killed off more of the other medium-sized
mammals than hares. I could not find out when the hares were
introduced.

Specimens taken. Total 8: 15 miles north of San Carlos, Dept.
Maldonado 1; Maldonado 1; 15 miles north of San Vicente de
Castillos, Dept. Rocha 2; 8 miles east of Treinta y Tres 1; Quebrada
de los Cuervos, Dept. Treinta y Tres 1; Polanco, Dept. Minas 1;
15 miles southwest of Dolores, Dept. Soriano 1.

Lagostomus maximus (Desmarest).

Dipus maximus "Blainville," DESMAREST, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., nov. ed.,
13, pp. 117-119, 1817.

The only mention of this animal is found in MarelK's list in
which he includes Uruguay in its range. Its occurrence in Uruguay
is doubtful.

Pecari tajacu (Linnaeus).

Sus tajacu LINNAEUS, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1, p. 50, 1758.

Figueira says that this peccary is almost extinct in Uruguay
but that it might be found in Artigas or Cerro Largo.

Blastocerus bezoarticus campestris (Cuvier).

Gouazouti AZARA, Quad. Paraguay, 1, p. 77, 1801.

Cervus campestris CUVIER, Diet. Sci. Nat., Paris, 7, pp. 484-485, 1817.

This deer was plentiful in one locality in Rocha but I heard
little about it elsewhere. In this place the country was open, with
a few palms, a little swamp, and large patches of high grass. I
hunted them from the Ford truck, which was found to be the best
way, as they were very wary of a man on foot or horseback. They

162 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII

were curious about the truck and easily approached. I saw about
twenty-five and shot four in about an hour and a half. The owner
of the land considered that there were very few there and said that
on another piece of land which he had rented out, there were
hundreds.

Specimens taken. 25 miles north of San Vicente de Castillos,
Dept. Rocha 4.

Other records. Cervus campestns Waterhouse, 1839, p. 29;
Burmeister, 1861, p. 430; Figueira, 1894, p. 14; Cariacus campestns
Aplin, 1894, p. 313.

Blastocerus dichotomus (Illiger).

Premier Cerf ou Gouazoupou AZARA, Quad. Paraguay, 1, p. 70, 1801.

Cervus dichotomus ILLIGER, Abhandl. K. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, (1811), p. 117,
1815.

The marsh deer is now very rare in Uruguay. I was told there
might be a few in Rocha near where the pampa deer was taken.

Other records. Cervus paludosus Figueira, 1894, p. 15; Aplin,
1894, p. 314.

Mazama simplicicornis (Illiger).

Quatrieme cerf ou gouazoubira AZARA, Quad. Paraguay, 1, p. 86, 1801.

Cervus simplicicornis ILLIGER, Abhandl. K. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, (1811), p.
117, 1815.

From reports received, the brocket deer appears to be rather
scarce. Even in 1894 Aplin and Figueira reported it as rare. There
were a few at the Quebrada de los Cuervos, where I saw three skulls
and purchased two. I feel sure that farther north in Tacuarembo,
Salta, and Artigas it would be more plentiful. Allen (Bull. Am.
Mus. Nat. Hist., 34, p. 527, 1915) reported the longest antler of
his series of many species of brocket deer as 135 mm. on a specimen
of M. simplicicornis from Paraguay. On one of our specimens the
antlers measure 144.3 mm. and 134.7 mm. respectively, from burr
to tip.

Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus.

Myrmecophaga tridactyla LINNAEUS, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 35, 1758.

Figueira is the only one who records the Great Anteater and he
gives it as scarce and only found in the northern and eastern depart-
ments.

1929 MAMMALS OF URUGUAY SANBORN 163

Dasypus septemcinctus Linnaeus.

Dasypus septemcinctus LINNAEUS, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 51, 1758.

This is the common armadillo of Uruguay and is known as the
Mulita. At one estancia in Treinta y Tres the owner protected it
and there were many there. Five or six could be seen running
about almost any evening about sunset. The flesh is quite good,
tasting a little like roast pork. When pursued the Mulita starts
to dig in and in hunting it one man tries to hold its tail while another
man digs it out. I found that putting a small calibered pistol down
the hole and shooting it in the back, was the surest way of getting
the animal.

Specimens taken. Total 8: 15 miles west of San Vicente de
Castillos, Dept. Rocha 1; Passo de las Avarias, Rio Cebollati, Dept.
Minas 1; 8 miles east of Treinta y Tres 3; 10 kilometers south of
La Lata, Dept. Colonia 1; 15 miles southwest of Dolores, Dept.
Soriano 1.

Other records. Dasypus hybridus Waterhouse, 1839, p. 92;
Praopus hybridus Burmeister, 1861, p. 428; Tatusia septemcincta
Aplin, 1894, p. 307; Dasypus septemcinctus Figueira, 1894, p. 10.

Dasypus novemcinctus Linnaeus.

Euphractus sexcinctus flavimanus (Desmarest).

Euphractus villosus (Desmarest).

I saw no specimens of any of these armadillos but heard of one
that the natives call the "Peludo." Aplin and Figueira agree that
D. novemcinctus is scarce but regarding the other two they differ.
Aplin records E. s. flavimanus as the more common while Figueira
claims that D. villosus is the common form. It will take more work
in northern Uruguay to settle this question.

REFERENCES
APLIN, O. V.

1894. Field Notes on the Mammals of Uruguay. Proc. Zool. Soc. London,
March 20, 1894, pp. 297-315.
List of twenty-five species.

BURMEISTER, HERMAN

1861. Reise durch die La Plata-Staaten. Halle, 1861. Part 2, pp. 387-432.
As this is a list of the mammals of the La Plata region, it includes many
Uruguayan forms but only six are specifically mentioned as found in the
Banda Oriental.

164 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. XVII

EYDOUX, F., and SOULEYET, F. L. A. in VAILLANT.

1841-1852. Voyage autour du monde sur la corvette La Bonite, 1, atlas, I,
pi. 3.

Description and three figures of skull of Conepatus feuilleii.

FIGUEIRA, JUAN H.

1894. Contribution al Conocimiento de la Fauna Uruguaya. Enumeracion de
Mamiferos. Anales del Museo Nacional de Montevideo, 2, pp. 187-217,
October 1894.

A list of 53 species with notes on the distribution and a short bibliography.

LESSON, R. P. AND GARNOT, P. in DUPERREY.

1826-1830. Voyage of the Coquille. April 18, 1827, Paris. Atlas, Paris, 1827.
Contains the original description and a plate with a figure of the skull
of Nycteris b. bonariensis.

LlCHTENSTEIN, H.

1827. Darstellung neuer oder wenig bekannter Saugethiere in abbildungen und
beschreibungen nach den originalen des zoologischen der Universitat zu Berlin.
Contains descriptions and colored plates of Ctenomys torquatus, Holo-
chilus vulpinus, and Scapteromys tomentosus.

MARELLI, CARLOS A.

1924. Elenco Sistematico de la Fauna de la Provencia de Buenos Aires. Mem-
orias del Ministerio de Obras Publicas, 1922-1923, pp. 536-682.
Lists a number of forms occurring in Uruguay.

MILLER, GERRIT S. AND ALLEN, GLOVER M.

1928. The American Bats of the Genera Myotis and Pizonyx. Bull. U. S. Nat.
Mus., No. 144.

Original description of Myotis c. alter and notes on Myotis pilosus.

THOMAS, OLDFIELD

1901. On a Collection of Bats from Paraguay. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (7),
8, pp. 435-443.

Contains original description of Molossus o. currentium.

1901a. New Species of Oryzomys, Cavia, and Syltilagus from South America.
Ibid., pp. 536-639.

Original description of Cavia pamparum.

1908. On Certain African and South American Otters. Ibid., (8), 1, pp. 387-395.
1914. On Various South American Mammals. Ibid., (8), 13, p. 359.
Contains original description of Pseudalopex culpaeola.

1916. Notes on the Bats of the Genus Histiotus. Ibid., (8), 17, p. 274.
Reference to Histiotus montanus in Uruguay.

1917. Notes on the Species of the Genus Cavia. Ibid., (8), 19, pp. 152-160.
Cavia pamparum made Cavia rufescens pamparum.

1917a. On Some Small Mammals from the Delta of the Parana. Ibid., (8),
20, pp. 95-100.

Original description of Oryzomys delticola.
1921. The Huron of the Argentine. Ibid., (9), 8, pp. 212-213.

Original description of Grisonella huronax.

1923. The Geographical Races of Lutreolina crassicaudata. Ibid., (9), 11,
pp. 583-585.

Original descriptions of Lutreolina c. lutrilla and L. c. paranalis.

1929 MAMMALS OF URUGUAY SANBORN 165

WATEBHOUSE, G. R.

1837. Characters of the Genus Mus from the Collection of Mr. Darwin. Proc.
Zool. Soc. London, Feb. 14, 1837, pp. 15-21.

Original descriptions of eight new mammals from Uruguay.
1837a. Characters of Two New Genera of Rodents from Mr. Darwin's Collec-
tion. Ibid., Feb. 28, 1837, pp. 27-32.

Original description of the genus Reithrodon.

1838-1839. The Zoology of H. M. S. Beagle., 1832-1836. Mammalia. Habits
and Ranges by Charles Darwin.

Description and colored plates of new species of mammals described by
Waterhouse in the Proc. Zool. Soc. London.

U- Li. ' - J

NOV2C1929
UNIVERSE OF ILLINOIS

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA