Delicate salt flat mouse

Not to be confused with the little native mouse (Pseudomys delicatulus) of Australia or the delicate mouse (Mus tenellus) of Africa.

The delicate salt flat mouse^[2] (Salinomys delicatus; Spanish: el ratón delicado de los salares^[3]) is a sigmodontine rodent species in the family Cricetidae from South America. It is the only species in the genus Salinomys.^[4] Its habitat is scrublands bordering salt flats (such as those of the Salinas Grandes) in the Monte Desert area of central western Argentina at elevations around 400 m.^[1][5] The closest relatives of the species are the chaco mice (Andalgalomys).^[6]

Delicate salt flat mouse
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Sigmodontinae
Genus:	Salinomys Braun & Mares, 1995
Species:	S. delicatus
Binomial name
Salinomys delicatus Braun & Mares, 1995

Karyotype

Its karyotype has 2n = 18 and FN = 32 in females^[7] but has 2n = 19 in males.^[8] Due to an X-autosome translocation, S. delicatus has an XY₁Y₂ sex chromosome system, rare in mammals.^[8] During meiotic prophase, a male's X and two Y chromosomes form a trivalent.^[8] The female value of 18 is the lowest diploid number of any species in the tribe Phyllotini. Given that close relative Andalgalomys pearsoni has the highest known diploid number (78) of the tribe, it appears that major chromosome restructuring occurred during the evolution of the Andalgalomys-Salinomys clade.^[8]

Conservation status

While not formally assessing its conservation status, the IUCN has stated, "This species occurs in a very narrow range of ecological requirements (salt flats) which are severely fragmented and which could be threatened by human disturbance."^[1]