How high can Andean leaf-eared mice live in the Andes?

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Andean leaf-eared mice can live above 6,700 meters in the Andes
Andean leaf-eared mice are capable of living at altitudes exceeding 6,700 meters in the Andes. This is higher than the elevations where mountaineers can barely venture for more than a brief period. Researchers also reported that the species was found hundreds of meters above the dwellings of Himalayan pikas, which had previously been considered the highest-dwelling mammal.
The recorded altitude limit in the Andes
The key figure is that the mouse can live at altitudes exceeding 6,700 meters. The finding places the species among animals occupying some of the world’s highest peaks in the Andes, where mammalian life was previously thought to be impossible.
How that compares with where mountaineers can go
The altitude is described as beyond what mountaineers can barely reach for more than a short time. In other words, the mouse’s living range extends into elevations that are only briefly accessible to people climbing at extreme heights.
Where the mouse was found relative to Himalayan pikas
The mouse was found hundreds of meters above dwellings of Himalayan pikas. Himalayan pikas had previously held the title for highest-dwelling mammal, making the Andean leaf-eared mouse’s recorded elevation notably higher.
The study context around the high-altitude discovery
Researchers began unraveling the animal’s adaptations six years after discovering it on some of the world’s highest peaks. The work described the mouse as a small mammal that fits in the palm of a hand while holding world records for high-altitude dwelling.

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How high can Andean leaf-eared mice live in the Andes?

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