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Even in the genomics era, the phylogeny of Neotropical small felids comprised in the genus Leopardus remains contentious. We used whole-genome resequencing data to construct a time-calibrated consensus phylogeny of this group, quantify phylogenomic discordance, test for interspecies introgression, and assess patterns of genetic diversity and demographic history. We infer that the Leopardus radiation started in the Early Pliocene as an initial speciation burst, followed by another in its subgenus Oncifelis during the Early Pleistocene. Our findings challenge the long-held notion that ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and margay (L. wiedii) are sister species and instead indicate that margay is most closely related to the enigmatic Andean cat (L. jacobita), whose whole-genome data are reported here for the first time. In addition, we found that the newly sampled Andean tiger cat (L. tigrinus pardinoides) population from Colombia associates closely with Central American tiger cats (L. tigrinus oncilla). Genealogical discordance was largely attributable to incomplete lineage sorting, yet was augmented by strong gene flow between ocelot and the ancestral branch of Oncifelis , as well as between Geoffroy's cat (L. geoffroyi) and southern tiger cat (L. guttulus). Contrasting demographic trajectories have led to disparate levels of current genomic diversity, with a nearly tenfold difference in heterozygosity between Andean cat and ocelot, spanning the entire range of variability found in extant felids. Our analyses improved our understanding of the speciation history and diversity patterns in this felid radiation, and highlight the benefits to phylogenomic inference of embracing the many heterogeneous signals scattered across the genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vampyressa melissa species complex comprises three rare bat species poorly represented in museum collections. Vampyressa melissa and V. sinchi are restricted to the eastern slope of the Andes, while V. elisabethae only is known from Panama, in Central America. The species complex has received recent attention in terms of systematic reviews, which concluded in the description of two species: one from Panama (V. elisabethae) and one from Colombia (V. sinchi). Vampyressa melissa recently was reported from the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia, in the department of Casanare. However, morphological and genetic (Cytochrome b) comparisons showed that these specimens belong to an undescribed species of the genus. The new species is the smallest member of the V. melissa complex and has a unique set of morphological characters compared to other Vampyressa species. Molecular evidence shows that the new species is sister to V. melissa (sensu stricto) from Colombia and Peru, albeit with high genetic divergence (7.9%). Nevertheless, Cytochrome b sequences of V. elisabethae and V. sinchi still are unknown. This new species increases to six the number of species in the genus. Vampyressa melissa , V. sinchi , and the new species, exhibit restricted distributions in the eastern slopes of the Andean Cordillera, in specific altitudinal ranges. Because of geographic constraints, their biological rarity, and the high deforestation rates in their distributional area, we suggest that these three species must be considered as taxa threatened with extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handleyomys intectus (Thomas, 1921) is a rodent commonly called the Colombian rice rat or white-footed Handley's mouse. It is a dull brownish-gray to blackish small mouse with frosted ventral pelage and with dark gray and pure-white (or indistinctly pigmented) hairs over the dorsum of hindfeet. H. intectus is endemic to the Central Andes of Colombia and it is known from several localities between 1,500 and 2,800 m. It may be a common species along its distribution. Globally, it is considered "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lonchorhina marinkellei Hernández-Camacho and Cadena-G., 1978 is a bat commonly called Marinkelle's sword-nosed bat. It is one of the largest species of the genus and one of the rarest bats of northern South America, only known from 5 specimens and 1 locality in the eastern llanos of Colombia. Globally, it is considered "Vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, mostly due to its restricted distribution and the continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Santamartamys rufodorsalis (Allen, 1899) is a rodent commonly called the red-crested tree rat. It is a medium-sized arboreal rat with soft, long pelage, and a crest of long hair on the crown between the ears. The dorsum is a deep rufous, and the sides, including the head and nose, are a paler yellowish orange. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Known only from 2 museum specimens and 1 photographic record from 3 localities of Colombia, it may be one of the rarest rodents in South America. Globally, it is considered "Critically Endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olallamys albicaudus (Günther, 1879) is a rodent called the white-tailed Olalla rat. It is a medium-sized rat with soft, long pelage and a tail with a whitish tip. The dorsum is bright reddish-brown, and the venter is whitish. It is endemic to the Andes region of Colombia and despite its wide distribution in the country, O. albicaudus is known from only a few museum specimens associated with 12 confirmed localities within Colombia. Globally, it is considered "Data Deficient" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mustela africana Desmarest, 1818, is a mustelid commonly called the tropical or Amazon weasel and is South America's largest weasel. It has dark pelage with little variation in color on the dorsum; the venter is pale colored with a dark medial longitudinal stripe, matching the color of the dorsum. The species is endemic to the Amazon Basin. Known from about 30 records over 2 centuries from different localities of Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru, it may be one of the rarest carnivores in South America. Globally, it is considered 'Least Concern' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]