604.

Charming Climbing Rat

Rhidomys venustus

French: Rhipidomys charmant / German: Schone Neuweltklettermaus / Spanish: Rata trepadora encantadora

Other common names: Charming Climbing Mouse, Merida Rhipidomys

Taxonomy. Rhipidomys venustus Thomas, 1900, “ Merida [Mérida]. ‘Las Vegas del Chama,’ alt. 1400 m,” Venezuela .

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. W & N Venezuela (Andes and disjunct in mountain ranges in the states of Falcon and Yaracuy and in the Cordillera de la Costa).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 121-150 mm, tail 123-165 mm, ear 18-20 mm, hindfoot 26-30 mm; weight 41-75 g. Medium-sized rat with pelage soft and dense, bright chestnut brown on dorsum and white tipped over dark slate hair bases below. Tail is sometimes reddish rather than dark, terminating in pencil of hairs 10-15 mm long. Ears are large, well-haired, and dark. Hindfeet have welldefined dark patches over metatarsals; sides of metatarsal part and toes yellowish are white.

Habitat. Cloud forests, primary and secondary evergreen forests, and coffee plantations at elevations mostly above 2000 m. Charming Climbing Rats have been caught among forest orchids, in trees and vines, under bushes, and on rock ledges.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Little is knwon, but one female Charming Climbing Rat had two embryos in the wet season (May-October).

Activity patterns. The Charming Climbing Rat is terrestrial and arboreal and is active at night.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Aagaard (1982), Cassola (20169), Linares (1998), Tribe (1996, 2015).