What is Ottavalo’s Andean Mouse?

About Ottavalo’s Andean Mouse:

• It is a new species of mouse with a remarkably long tail.
• It was discovered near Mojanda, a dormant volcano with a caldera filled with lakes. The site is about a 50-mile trip from Quito, a city situated in the high Andes of northern Ecuador.
• It has been identified as endemic to the temperate, high-altitude Andean regions of the montane forest.
• It was named in honor of the local Otavalo culture, which is widely recognized for its musical heritage and skilled weaving and textile commerce.
• Features:
  • In comparison to related species, the Otavalos Andean mouse is slightly larger, with shorter hair on its back.
  • It has a coat of “fine, dense, and soft” fur.
  • The fur on its back and sides is described as “dark drab,” while its sides show a more brownish tone.
  • On its stomach, the fur is a lighter gray with a hint of “ground cinnamon,” giving it a distinct color gradient across its body.
  • The most distinguishable feature of the new mouse species is its tail, which is longer than the length of the entire body combined.
  • The tail is overall covered with fine hairs and a row of scales with a white tip.

Q1: What is a caldera?

A caldera is a large depression formed when a volcano erupts and collapses. During a volcanic eruption, magma present in the magma chamber underneath the volcano is expelled, often forcefully. When the magma chamber empties, the support that the magma had provided inside the chamber disappears. As a result, the sides and top of the volcano collapse inward. Calderas vary in size from one to 100 kilometers (0.62 to 62 miles) in diameter.

Source: This newly discovered mammal species has a tail that is longer than its entire body

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