Cuscomys

Cuscomys
Illustration of Cuscomys oblativus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Abrocomidae
Genus:	Cuscomys Emmons, 1999
Type species
Abrocoma oblativa Eaton, 1916
Species
Cuscomys ashaninka Cuscomys oblativus

Cuscomys is a genus of rodents found in the Andes of Cusco in southern Peru. These relatively large chinchilla rats are dark grey with a distinct white line running from the crown to the nose. The genus was coined in 1999 when C. ashaninka was scientifically described,^[1] but later it was discovered that C. oblativus, a species traditionally placed in the genus Abrocoma, actually belonged in Cuscomys. They are very poorly known, as C. ashaninka only is known from the holotype,^[2] while C. oblativus usually has been considered extinct, as it was only known from remains found in 1912, buried alongside people in ancient Inca tombs at the Machu Picchu ruins.^[3] However, photos of a rodent taken at the ruins in late 2009 likely show this species.^[4] It is unclear if the Cuscomys truly are extremely rare, as they may be easily overlooked due to their remote distributions and arboreal habits.^[1]

1. ^ ^{a b} Emmons, L. H. (1999). A new genus and species of abrocomid rodent from Peru (Rodentia: Abrocomidae). American Museum Novitates 3279: 1-14.
2. ^ Vivar, E. (2016). "Cuscomys ashaninka". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T136466A22182204. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136466A22182204.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
3. ^ Roach, N. (2016). "Cuscomys oblativa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T136658A22182152. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136658A22182152.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
4. ^ Castillo, G. M. (2009). (in Spanish) Detectan en Cusco a roedor declarado extinto. El Comercio (Peru). 12 August 2009.

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