531.

Tokunoshima Spiny Rat

Tokudaia tokunoshimensis

French: Mulot de Tokunoshima / German: Tokunoshima-Inselstachelratte / Spanish: Rata espinosa de Tokunoshima

Taxonomy. Tokudaia tokunoshimensis Endo & Tsuchiya, 2006, Tokuno-shima Island, Japan.

Although 7. tokunoshimensis was only recently created, previous genetic works had already shown that Tokunoshima populations are distinct. Monotypic.

Distribution. Tokunoshima (Ryukyu Is), S Japan.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 103-160 mm, tail 83-5—-135 mm, ear 22-23 mm,

hindfoot 37-38 mm. No specific data on weight are available. A middle-sized rodent, the Tokunoshima Spiny Rat has dark brown dorsal pelage and light gray-buff ventral one. Bicolored tail is black above, white below, ends with a black tip, and is shorter than body length. Long spiny hairs (15-20 mm) are visible on back and rump. Females have four pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 45, FN = 58.

Habitat. Secondary broadleaf forest and intact forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List owing to its small fragmented range restricted to one island, destruction of its habitat, and predation by domestic cats and dogs.

Bibliography. Abe et al. (2005), Endo & Tsuchiya (2006), Ohdachi et al. (2015).