Partial and complete leucism in two Abrothrix species (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from central Chile

Abstract

Rodents with leucism (a hypopigmentary congenital disorder) in the Neotropical region are rarely recorded. During field surveys in central Chile, we found in commercial Monterrey pine plantations a specimen of Abrothrix longipilis and a specimen of Abrothrix olivaceus with partial leucism. Another A. olivaceus exhibited complete leucism. To our knowledge, this is the second documentation of leucism in rodents from Chile and the first record of leucism in A. longipilis. Leucism may be expressed in small and isolated populations due to inbreeding. This suggests that land-use change in this area is probably affecting the genetic diversity of these rodent species.