53.

Rwenzori Brush-furred Rat

Lophuromys stanleyi

French: Rat-hérissé de Stanley / German: Ruwenzori-Blrstenhaarmaus / Spanish: Rata de pelaje de cepillo de Rwenzori

Taxonomy. Lophuromys stanleyi W. N. Verheyen et al., 2007,

Mount Rwenzori-Bujuku, DR Congo (00.22° N-29.58° E, 3700 m).

Lophuromys stanley: is member of the L. flavopunctatus species complex and was named during partial revision of the L. aguilus species complex. It is characterized by craniometric and genetic character-istics; its skull proportions are similar to L. laticeps, and molecularly, it is similar to L. margarettae and L. zena (cytochrome-b). Lophuromys stanleyi is one of four endemic species in the Rwenzori Mountains diversity hotspot. Monotypic.

Distribution. Rwenzori Mts, E DR Congo and SW Uganda. Descriptive notes. Head-body 113-126 mm, tail 40-80 mm, ear 16-19 mm, hindfoot 22-24 mm; weight 36-55 g. The Rwenzori Brush-furred Rat has a speckled pelage similar to other speciesin the L. flavopunctatus species complex. Tail is short, 50-60% of head-body length. Habitat. Poorly known, but type specimen was collected at an elevation of 3700 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. The Rwenzori Brushfurred Rat could be classified as Data Deficient because of lack of basic life history information.

Bibliography. Monadjem et al. (2015), Verheyen et al. (2007).