52.

Simien Brush-furred Rat

Lophuromys simensis

French: Rat-hérissé des Simien / German: Simien-Birstenhaarmaus / Spanish: Rata de pelaje de cepillo de Simien

Taxonomy. Lophuromys flavopunctatus simensis Osgood, 1936,

Mt Simien, Ethiopia.

Lophuromys simensis was originally described as subspecies of L. flavopunctatus, an opinion followed by many authors until L. simensis was synonymized with L. brunneus . Lophuromys simensis was recently elevated to species rank based on molecular (mtDNA) and morphometric analyses including new topotype specimens. Its closest relative is L. menageshae. Further molecular studies are required to verify specific status of Ethiopian members of the L. flavopunctatus species complex. Monotypic.

Distribution. Simien Mts and Lake Tana region W of the Rift Valley, Ethiopia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 114-145 mm, tail 58-85 mm, ear 15-20 mm, hindfoot 21-25 mm; weight 37-74 g. The Simien Brush-furred Rat externally looks like a Buffsspotted Brush-furred Rat ( L. flavopunctatus). Dorsum is speckled and darkish to brownish; venter is yellowish cream to pale orange. Tail is bicolored and short, 53-5% of head-body length (range 42-63%). Claws are black. Chromosomal complementis 2n = 70 and FNa = 84.

Habitat. Dry woodlands and Afro-alpine grasslands and moorlands at elevations of 1600-3800 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Because the Simien Brush-furred Rat is found in various habitats, it may be Least Concern; however, lack of basic life history data suggest that Data Deficient is an appropriate classification.

Bibliography. Lavrenchenko, Verheyen, E. et al. (2004), Lavrenchenko, Verheyen, W.N. et al. (2007), Monadjem et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (2005), Osgood (1936), Verheyen et al. (2002).