196.

Tamaulipan Woodrat

Neotoma angustapalata

French: Néotoma du Tamaulipas / German: Tamaulipan-Buschratte / Spanish: Rata de bosque de Tamaulipas

Taxonomy. Neotoma angustapalata Baker, 1951, 70 km (by highway) south of Ciudad Victoria and 6 km west on Panamerican Highway, El Carrizo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

There is some debate as to whether N. angustapalata should be recognized as a species or subspecies; most recent evidence lends support to treating as a species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Restricted to Sierra Madre Oriental regions in SW Tamaulipas and adjoining parts of San Luis Potosi states (NE Mexico).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 185-220 mm, tail 195-200 mm, ear 30-32 mm, hindfoot 39-44 mm; weight 180-240 g. The Tamaulipan Woodratis large, similar to other woodrat species. Upperparts of dorsum are brownish, and venter is white. Cheeks are grayish, and gular region is white. Tail is slightly bicolored, with upper part blackish and underneath white. Tail is long, robust, and covered with thin hair; it is about as long as head-body length. Ears and eyes are large.

Habitat. Pine ( Pinus, Pinaceae) and oak ( Quercus, Fagaceae) forests and foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental from near sea level to elevations of ¢.1150 m. The Tamaulipan Woodrat has been collected in crevices and small caves, covered with dense undergrowth of vegetation.

Food and Feeding. The Tamaulipan Woodrat is thought to feed mainly on seeds, other parts of plants, and occasionally invertebrates.

Breeding. The Tamaulipan Woodrat reproduces year-round, with 2-3 young born in spring and 1-2 young born in autumn. Gestation lasts 30-40 days. Young become independent within c.4 weeks and reach sexual maturity at ¢.8 months old.

Activity patterns. The Tamaulipan Woodrat is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The endemic Tamaulipan Woodrat is protected in Mexico, where its narrow distribution is heavily impacted by human activities. It should be monitored to assess ongoing threats.

Bibliography. Alvarez (1963a), Baker (1951), Birney (1973), Hall (1981), Hooper (1953), Nowak (1999), Rogers et al. (2011), Tobdn (2014a).