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Abstract Based on previously published molecular (mitochondrial) and herein provided morphological (qualitative and quantitative data) evidence, we describe a new species of leaf-eared mouse of the genus Phyllotis . The new species is morphometrically distinct when compared with other phylogenetically or geographically close species of Phyllotis , showing several quantitative differences in their external and craniodental characters (e.g., proportionally broader nasals and interorbital region, and proportionally smaller tympanic bullae). The new species is endemic to central Argentina, occurring on rocky grasslands at elevations of 650–2,800 m a.s.l. This is the only species of Phyllotis inhabiting the Central Sierras, a mountain system of medium elevation, isolated from the Andes by low elevation arid and semiarid environments. 

Abstract PhyllotisWaterhouse 1837 is one of the most studied genera of South American cricetid rodents. As currently understood, it includes 20 small to medium‐sized species of predominantly rocky habitats. Among them, populations of the yellow‐rumped leaf‐eared mouse, traditionally referred toP. xanthopygus(Waterhouse 1837), are the most widely distributed, extending from central Peru to southern Chile and Argentina. Based mostly on molecular evidence, previous studies suggested thatP. xanthopygusconstitutes a species complex, being characterized by geographically structured and genetically divergent clades. In this work, we compare the molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for populations distributed on the eastern slopes of the central Andes with morphometric evidence using univariate and multivariate analyses. Quantitative morphological and molecular evidence suggests that at least four nearly cryptic species of theP. xanthopyguscomplex occur from southern Bolivia to west‐central Argentina. Three of these taxa have available names; one of them,P. caprinus, is currently recognized to the species level; the other two, the clades ofP. x. posticalis‐P. x. rupestrisandP. vaccarum, are both recognized as subspecies ofP. xanthopygus. The remaining taxon represents a new species distributed in the west‐central Andes of Argentina. We discuss our morphological results in the light of other sources of evidence (e.g. qualitative and quantitative state characters, genetic and phylogenetic studies, and cytogenetic data) and name the new species asP. pehuenche, honouring the original native people that historically inhabited west‐central Andes of Argentina.