429.

Mount Oku Rat

Lamottemys okuensis

French: Rat de Lamotte / German: Oku-Ratte / Spanish: Rata de Oku

Other common names: Mount Oku Lamottemys

Taxonomy. Lamottemys okuensis Petter, 1986,

Mt Oku, W Cameroon.

In 2014, a morphological study by C. Denys and colleagues showed skull and dental characters and variability of L. okuensis . A recent molecular study allowed to demonstrate that Lamottemys is a member of the Arvicanthini tribe and its closest affinities are with the Ethiopian Desmomys . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from Mt Oku, Cameroon.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 130-149 mm, tail 123-140 mm, ear 1618-5 mm, hindfoot 29-5-33 mm; weight 62-85 g. Fur is soft and shiny, and is dark brown above, very similar to Hybomys but lacking mid-dorsal stripe, and grading gradually to yellowish gray below. Tail is of approximately same length as head-body length, black, ringed with scales, and with many small black bristles. Ears are relatively large and darkly pigmented, with few short dark hairs. Upper surface of all feet is yellowish brown. Forefeet lack first digit, and fifth digit is reduced (with nail, not claw). Hindfeet have five digits, all with claws. Females have 0+2 = 2 pairs of nipples.

Habitat. Dense montane forest at elevations of 2100-2900 m.

Food and Feeding. Stomachs of Mount Oku Rats contained only vegetable matter, suggesting that they may be strictly herbivorous.

Breeding. Three pregnant females each contained a single embryo.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Denys et al. (2014), Dieterlen & Van der Straeten (1988), Missoup et al. (2016), Musser & Carleton (2005), Petter (1986).