Thrichomys laurentius Thomas 1904
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Echimyidae
Thrichomys
Thrichomys laurentius

description: 24.
Sao Lourenco Punare
Thrichomys laurentius
French: Punaré de Sao Lorenco / German: Laurentius-Punaré / Spanish: Punaré de San Lorenzo
Taxonomy. Thrichomys laurentius Thomas, 1904,
“Sao Lourenco [= Sao Lorenco da Mata], near Pernambuco, Alt. 50 m,” Pernambuco, Brazil.
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. NE Brazil, from Ceara and Rio Grande do Norte states, S to C Bahia State.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 125-240 mm, tail 135-214 mm; weight 120-365 g. The Sao Lourenco Punare is medium-sized relative to others in the genus. Greatest skull length averages 53-8 mm. Dorsal color is yellowish gray; ventral hairs are completely white or with light gray bases. Skull is most similar to that of the Lagoa Santa Punare (7. apereoides), sharing elongated incisive foramina without lateral constriction at premaxillomaxillary suture and thin hamular processes of pterygoid bones that are pointed at tips. The Sao Lourenco Punare differs from the Lagoa Santa Punare by lacking pronounced lateral flange on posterior margins of incisive foramina, V-shaped mesopterygoid fossa, and almost flat palate without median keel and only shallow palatal grooves. Chromosome complement of specimens from Bahia State is 2n = 30 with 54 autosomal arms; specimens with 2n = 30 and FN = 56 from central Brazil may represent an undescribed species.
Habitat. Northern Caatinga ecoregion at elevations from near sea level at 15 m to nearly 800 m.
Food and Feeding. Dry season diet of the Sao Lourenco Punare includes buds of the bromeliad (Bromelia lacinosa, Bromeliaceae) and cactus (Cereus Jjamacaru, Cactaceae), nuts of Attalea palms (Arecaceae), and pads of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia palmadora), an important source of water.
Breeding. Reproductive activity of Sao Lourenco Punares in Pernambuco State occurred year-round, with peak in September—-December. Adult females had 2-3 litters/ year, with an interbirth interval of 4-6 months. Litter size averaged 3-1 young but varied from 1-6 young. In Ceara State, pregnant females were captured in July, with 1-4 young (two most common). Littersizes in captive individuals were 1-7 young, averaging 3-2. Liter size generally increased with female age, and gestation lasted 95-98 days. Milk of the Sao Lourenco Punare is high in fat, perhaps an adaptation to minimize water loss in its arid environment. Neonates are precocial, born at an average weight of 2-1 g, eyes and ears open,fully furred body, and erupted upper and lower incisors; motor coordination is sufficient to permit young to eat solid food within a few hours following birth.
Activity patterns. Activity of Sao Lourenco Punares peaks at dusk, but individuals remain active during short periods of day and night.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges of female Sao Lourenco Punares rarely overlap, but those of males overlap with multiple females; male home ranges are relatively exclusive.
Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography. Bonvicino et al. (2008), Moojen (1952b), Nascimento et al. (2013), Pessda, Tavares, Neves & da Silva (2015), Teixeira etal. (2005), Thomas (1904a).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Echimyidae, pp. 552-604 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 564-565, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6623649