405.

Big-headed Rice Rat

Euryoryzomys legatus

French: Oryzomys de Tarija / German: GroRkopf-Reisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera de cabeza grande

Other common names: Tarija Euryoryzomys

Taxonomy. Oryzomys legatus Thomas, 1925, Carapari, 1000 m, Tarija, Bolivia.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. SC Bolivia (Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz, and Tarija departments) and NW Argentina (Jujuy and Salta provinces).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 123-155 mm, tail 134-162 mm, hindfoot 31-35 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Dorsum of the Bigheaded Rice Rat is dark-lined buffy, sides are brighter, and venter is white, with gray-based hair. Tail is longer than head-body length and bicolored. Skull is small and delicate, with deep and narrow zygomatic notch and alisphenoid strut always present. Incisors are opisthodont, and molars are pentalophodont.

Habitat. Montane and premontane mesic, transitional, and dense forests.

Food and Feeding. The Big-headed Rice Rat eats vegetation and invertebrates.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Observational data of Big-headed Rice Rats suggest thatit is scansorial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Mares, Ojeda & Kosco (1981), Massoia (1974b), Percequillo (2015d), Thomas (1925a).