Punomys

The Puna mice ( Punomys ) are a living in South America rodent genus of the group of the New world. They consist of two types.

Puna mice have a stocky, wühlmausähnlichen body. They reach a body length 13-16 inches, the tail is 5 to 8 centimeters short. The weight is around 80 grams. The fur is long and soft, it is brown or gray-brown on the top, the belly is white or light gray. The claws are very short.

These animals are located in southeastern Peru. They inhabit the Puna region in the Andes, where they occur at altitudes 4450-5200 meters. They are the only mammals that live exclusively in such altitudes.

Puna mice are diurnal, they often stay on in crevices or other hiding places. Their food form the Senecio adenophylloides and the herb Werneria digitata. Little is known about reproduction, births fall in the warm months of November to April.

Puna mice are common and are not among the endangered species.

There are two main ways, Punomys lemminus and Punomys described only in 1995 kofordi.

The systematic relationships with other Neuweltmäusen are unclear why these animals are conducted within the Sigmodontinae incertae sedis as.