Akodon is a genus consisting of South American grass mice. Grass mice are found throughout South America, but the genus is absent from the Amazon lowlands, west of the southern Andes, and from extreme southern South America. Akodon is one of the most species-rich genera of Neotropical rodents. Species of Akodon are known to inhabit a variety of habitats from tropical and tropical moist forests to altiplano and desert.

Akodon is the largest genus in the tribe Akodontini. Three genera (Chalcomys, Hypsimys and Microxus) have been relegated to subgeneric status. Previously associated with Akodon, the genera Abrothrix, Deltamys, Necromys, Thalpomys, and Thaptomys are currently recognized as distinct.

The genus contains 41 currently recognized species:

• A. aerosus Yungas Akodont
• A. affinis Cordillera Occidental Akodont
• A. albiventer White-bellied Akodont
• A. aliquantulus Diminutive Akodont
• A. azarae Azara's Akodont
• A. bogotensis Bogotá Akodont
• A. boliviensis Bolivian Akodont
• A. budini Budin's Akodont
• A. cursor Cursorial Akodont
• A. dayi Dusky Akodont
• A. dolores Córdoba Akodont
• A. fumeus Smoky Akodont
• A. iniscatus Patagonian Akodont
• A. juninensis Junín Akodont
• A. kofordi Koford's Akodont
• A. latebricola Ecuadorian Akodont
• A. leucolimnaeus Catamarca Akodont
• A. lindberghi Lindbergh's Akodont
• A. lutescens Altiplano Akodont
• A. mimus Hocicudo-like Akodont
• A. molinae Molina's Akodont
• A. mollis Soft-furred Akodont
• A. montensis Montane Akodont
• A. mystax Caparaó Akodont
• A. neocenus Neuquén Akodont
• A. oenos Monte Akodont
• A. orophilus Utcubamba Akodont
• A. paranaensis Paraná Akodont
• A. pervalens Tarija Akodont
• A. philipmyersi Philip Myers' Akodont
• A. reigi Reig’s Akodont
• A. sanctipaulensis São Paulo Akodont
• A. serrensis Serra do Mar Akodont
• A. siberiae Cochabamba Akodont
• A. simulator White-throated Akodont
• A. spegazzinii Spegazzini's Akodont
• A. subfuscus Puno Akodont
• A. surdus Slate-bellied Akodont
• A. sylvanus Woodland Akodont
• A. toba Toba Akodont
• A. torques Cloud Forest Grass Akodont
• A. varius Variable Akodont

References

• Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (eds). 2005. Mammal Species of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2,142 pp.

New World rats and mice

Südamerikanische Feldmäuse | Akodon | Akodon