590.

Eastern Arc Wood Mouse

Hylomyscus arcimontensis

French: Hylomysque de I'Arc / German: Ostliche Afrikawaldmaus / Spanish: Ratén de bosque del Arco Oriental

Other common names: Arc Mountain Wood Mouse, Arc Mountain Hylomyscus, Eastern Arc Hylomyscus

Taxonomy. Hylomyscus arcimontensis Carleton & Stanley, 2005, Monga Tea Estate, 4-5 km WNW Amani, E Usambara Mountains, Muheza District, Tanga Region, Tanzania.

Hylomyscus arcimontensis was originally included in H. denniae but elevated to species status based on morphological grounds. Monotypic.

Distribution. Eastern Arc Mts from South Pare Mts S to Mt Rungwe, Tanzania, and probably in Misuku Mts in N Malawi.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 75-105 mm,tail 127-137 mm, ear 16-21 mm, hindfoot 18-22 mm; weight 13-5-28-5 g. Fur of the Eastern Arc Wood Mouseis soft and dense, dark brown above and sharply demarcated grayish white below, similar in color to the Montane Wood Mouse ( H. denniae). Tail is very long (c.140% of head-body length), dusky brown and appearing naked but with tuft of hair at tip. Ears and eyes are large relative to head. Fifth digit on hindfoot is opposable and almost as long as second to fourth digits. Females have three pairs of nipples. Incisors are orthodont.

Habitat. Montane forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Eastern Arc Wood Mice are arboreal and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The [UCN Red List.

Bibliography. Carleton & Stanley (2005), Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015).