Today, Cuscomys is a topic of great relevance and interest to a wide range of people. Whether due to its impact on society, its historical importance, or its relevance in the current environment, Cuscomys is a topic that never ceases to fascinate and intrigue those who delve into it. In this article, we will take a deeper look at Cuscomys, exploring its different facets and offering a unique perspective on this broad and diverse topic. Through detailed analysis and critical scrutiny, we hope to shed light on Cuscomys and provide our readers with a more complete understanding of this topic that impacts us so much.
| 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 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]