Ranim, Till, Derek, and Graham are taking part in an exciting research expedition to Chile to study the world’s highest dwelling animal, the Punta de Vacas leaf-eared mouse (Phyllotis vaccarum). This amazing species can be found throughout the Andean mountains, recorded as high as 6739 m elevation on the summit of Llullaillaco volcano in the Puna de Atacama, where food is scarce and the air is extremely cold and low in oxygen. How they can live in such a hostile place is a complete mystery!
(photo credit: Marcial Quiroga-Carmona)
The Scott Lab is helping figure out how this species can live at such high altitudes. Working with our great Chilean hosts – Pablo Sabat and his student Francisco (Pancho) Del Basto – along with collaborators Jay Storz, Naim Bautista, Zac Cheviron, Jeff Good, Grant McClelland, Marcial Quiroga-Carmona, and others, the project is sure to make many exciting discoveries in the future. Stay tuned!
Scott Lab @ McMaster 