3.

Sleek-furred Ground Rat

Gymnuromys robert

French: Voalavoanala / German: Voalavoanala / Spanish: Rata terrestre de pelaje liso

Other common names: \ Voalavoanala

Taxonomy. Gymnuromys robert: Forsyth Major, 1896,

“ Ampitambe forest,” Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to E Madagascar.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 156-172 mm, tail 149-199 mm; weight 98-128 g. Coat of the Sleek-furred Ground Rat is dense and short, with mottled gray white dorsal fur that becomes gray to cream on venter. It has round and very prominent ears. Tail is largely naked and bicolored, with dark two-tone gray above and white or light gray below; distal portion ofthe tail has sparse and short white fur. Hindlegs are large.

Habitat. Eastern humid lowland and montane forest at elevations of 500-1625 m.

Food and Feeding. The Sleek-furred Ground Rat consumes a variety of seeds, such as those from Canarium (Burseraceae) by gnawing a hole in the central part to extract the endocarp. It presumably feeds on fruits and invertebrates.

Breeding. Females have three pairs of mammae, and maximum litter size is three young.

Activity patterns. The Sleek-furred Ground Rat is nocturnal, perhaps partially cathemeral, and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. The Sleekfurred Ground Rat is forest-dwelling, and it is found in much of the eastern humid forests of Madagascar in numerous localities. Given continued declines in natural forests of this region, particularly those at the lower end ofits elevational range, its mediumand long-term future is uncertain.

Bibliography. Carleton & Goodman (2003b), Carleton & Schmidt (1990), Goodman, Ganzhorn & Rakotondravony (2003), Goodman, Soarimalala et al. (2013), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011).