A NEW SPECIES OF THE PUNA MOUSE, GENUS PUNOMYS OSGOOD, 1943 (MURIDAE,SIGMODONTINAE) FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN ANDES OF PERU

The puna mouse, Punomys Osgood, 1943, is a poorly known and rather eni gmatic taxon in regard to its phyletic relationships within the Sigmod ontinae. Since the discovery of the type species P. lemminus Osgood, 1 943, the genus was considered monotypic and known from few specimens. We describe a second species here based on collections made by CARL B. KOFORD in Puno Department, Peru, in 1951 and 1970. The discovery of t his new species supports the hypothesis of a generalized biogeographic al subdivision in the southern Andes along both sides of the Lake Titi caca Basin. We also summarize available data on natural history, habit at, reproduction, and systematic position.