Central Andes Oldfield Mouse vs Close-lobed dandelion

Thomasomys contradictus compared with Taraxacum densilobum

Key Differences

Central Andes Oldfield Mouse is Data Deficient while Close-lobed dandelion is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Central Andes Oldfield Mouse	Close-lobed dandelion
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family	Cricetidae	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Thomasomys	Taraxacum
Species	Thomasomys contradictus	Taraxacum densilobum

Conservation Status

Central Andes Oldfield Mouse

DD — Data Deficient

Close-lobed dandelion

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Central Andes Oldfield Mouse	Close-lobed dandelion
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Central Andes Oldfield Mouse

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Colombia.

Close-lobed dandelion

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Central Andes Oldfield Mouse

The Central Andes Oldfield Mouse (Thomasomys contradictus) is a species in the genus Thomasomys. It is currently classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List. Found in Colombia.

Close-lobed dandelion refers to a microspecies within the extraordinarily diverse aggregate Taraxacum officinale sensu lato (family Asteraceae), the common dandelion complex. Dandelions are notoriously complex taxonomically due to widespread apomixis — asexual seed production without fertilization — which generates thousands of clonal microspecies that are morphologically distinguishable but reproductively isolated. Close-lobed forms are characterized by leaf lobes that are positioned closely together, with shorter spaces between the lobes than in more deeply divided or open-lobed morphs. This leaf morphology is one of dozens of characters — including lobe shape, involucre bract posture, achene color, and scape characteristics — used by Taraxacum specialists to delineate the hundreds or thousands of named microspecies. Dandelions of all morphologies are ecologically important as early-season nectar and pollen sources for bumblebees, honeybees, and numerous other pollinators. Their deep taproots break up compacted soils and bring nutrients from depth, and their seeds provide food for finches and other seed-eating birds across open habitats in temperate regions.