504.

Sri Lankan Long-tailed Climbing Mouse

Vandeleuria nolthenii

French: Vandeleuria de Nolthenius / German: Sri-Lanka-Langschwanzklettermaus / Spanish: Raton trepador de cola larga de Sri Lanka Other common names: Nolthenius's Long-tailed Climbing Mouse, Sri Lankan Highland Tree Mouse, Sri Lankan Vandeleuria

Taxonomy. Vandeleuria nilagirica [sic] nolthenii W. W.A. Phillips, 1929,

West Haputale, 1830 m, Ohiya, Uva, Sri Lanka. This species is monotypic.

Distribution. C highlands of Sri Lanka.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 120-125 mm, tail 120-125 mm, hindfoot 20-21 mm. The Sri Lankan Long-tailed Climbing Mouse is distinguished from other species of Vandeleuria by its gray ven-tral pelage. Compared with other species of Vandeleuria, its skull has shorter molar rows, longer incisive that barely reach front part of M', wider braincase, and reduced temporal fossa. Habitat. Primary forest in highlands at elevations of 1320-2130 m. Food and Feeding. The Sri Lankan Long-tailed Climbing Mouse is probably herbivorous. Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Sri Lankan Long-tailed Climbing Mouse is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Sri Lankan Long-tailed Climbing Mouse only occurs in a small patch of primary montane forest (extent of occurrence less than 5000 km? and area of occupancyless than 500 km?). It is likely to be affected by disappearance ofprimary forest.

Bibliography. Corbet & Hill (1992), Molur et al. (2005), Musser & Carleton (2005), Phillips (1929).