Proechimys chrysaeolus

The Boyacá spiny rat (Proechimys chrysaeolus) is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is endemic to Colombia; it is found primary forest in Carare River valley, Boyacá Department, 100 to 500 meters above sea level. Nocturnal, terrestrial and solitary, it feeds on seeds, fruit and some leaves and insects. It is threatened by habitat loss for mining and agriculture. Morphological characters and mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA sequences showed that P. chrysaeolus belongs to the so-called trinitatus group of Proechimys species, and shares closer phylogenetic affinities with the other members of this clade: P. trinitatus, P. mincae, P. guairae, P. poliopus, P. magdalenae, P. urichi, and P. hoplomyoides.