765.

North-eastern Peninsula Hill Rat

Bunomys fratrorum

French: Bunomys des Hose / German: Nordostliche Sulawesi-Bergratte / Spanish: Rata de colina nororiental Other common names: Fraternal Hill Rat, North-eastern Peninsula Bunomys

Taxonomy. Mus fratrorum Thomas, 1896,

Rurukan, 3500 ft (= 1067 m), north-eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Bunomysfratrorum is in the B. fratrorum species group within Bunomys and is sister to B. karokophilus . The phylogenetic affinities of this species are currentlyunknown, althoughtit is probably closely related to the other Lesser Sunda rats. They are known from Flores Islandby subfossil remains from 3000-4000 years ago. Monotypic.

Distribution. NE Resins of Sulawesi.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 157-190 mm, tail 150-200 mm, hindfoot 36-44 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The North-eastern Peninsula Hill Rat is medium-sized and large-bodied, with soft and long pelage and shortish dark guard hairs. Dorsum varies from glistening brownish gray with bright speckling with buff to dark brownish gray withblackish highlights. Venter is dark gray and speckled with buff or (usually) heavily washed with buff tones. Feet are white and covered with short silvery hair, with short and unpigmented claws. Ears are brownish gray, rubbery, and covered in short hair. Tail is 99-101% of head-body length and varies from brown to dark brown dorsally and sides always while being white or heavily speckled ventrally, sometimes with whitish tip that is either entirely white or speckled. Skull is large and moderately long, with narrow rostrum and wide zygomatic plate. Sucking lice (Hoplopleura and Polyplax), fleas (Sigmactenus, Musserella, Nestivalius, and Macrostylophora), ticks (Ambyomma, Dermacentor, and Haemaphysalis) and chiggers (Schoengastia, Walchiella, and Leptotrombidium) have been recorded from the North-eastern Peninsula Hill Rat. There are two pairs of inguinal mammae.

Habitat. Lowland and highland tropical evergreen rainforest formations at elevations up to 1982 m.

Food and Feeding. Stomach of one North-eastern Peninsula Hill contained small earthworms, fragments of small adult beetles, head of a termite,and small fruits.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The North-eastern Peninsula Hill Rat is probably nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Northeastern Peninsula Hill Rat has a restricted distribution, and it does occur in Bogani Nani Watarbone National Park. Major threats included habitat loss from agricultural expansion and probably gold mining;it is also hunted for food.

Bibliography. Clayton (2016i), Musser (1991, 2014), Musser & Carleton (2005).