458.

Forest Small Rice Rat

Microryzomys minutus

French: Oryzomys nain / German: Kleinstreisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera pequena de bosque

Other common names: Montane Colilargo

Taxonomy. Hesperomys minutus Tomes, 1860, probably near Pallatanga, on the western slope of the Cordillera, Chimborazo, Ecuador.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. N & C Andes ranges, including Caribbean Coastal Ranges and Cordillera de Mérida in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru (except Altiplano and coastal ranges of SW), and WC Bolivia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 62-99 mm, tail 110-126 mm, ear 15-16 mm, hindfoot 22-23 mm; weight 10-24 g. Hairs of the Forest Small Rice Rat are soft and woolly. Dorsal pelage has bicolored hairs with grayish bases, yellowish in middle, and blackish tips. Venter is yellowish or orange. Ears are dark gray, with outer edges covered by small black hairs. Vibrissae are abundant and long, extending beyond ears when bent. Dusky markings occur on tops of forefeet and hindfeet. Hindfeet are slightly wider than forefeet, and plantar pads are more robust, with claws covered almost completely by long hairs. Tail is thin and ¢.145% of head-body length, basically unicolored, with short and scattered hairs. Skull is delicate with narrower braincase, short and ovate incisive foramina, and short toothrow (usually less than 3 mm). Females have four pairs of mammae. Diploid number is 2n = 58.

Habitat. Montane rainforest, subalpine forest, and paramo at elevations of 800-4265 m. The Forest Small Rice Rat is frequently recorded near rocks, in shrubby areas, and in disturbed and pristine habitats.

Food and Feeding. The Forest Small Rice Rat eat arthropods, larvae, parts of plants, and seeds.

Breeding. The Forest Small Rice Rat appears to breed in rainy season;litters have 3-8 young.

Activity patterns. The Forest Small Rice Rat is nocturnal, terrestrial, and a climber.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Forest Small Rice Rats are solitary.

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

Bibliography. Bibliography. Barnett (1999), Cabello et al. (2006), Carleton (2015a), Carleton & Musser (1989), Cassola (2016y), Eisenberg & Redford (1999), Handley (1976), Kiblisky (1969), Lee et al. (2015), Lord (1999), Medina et al. (2012), Musser & Carleton (2005), Noblecilla & Pacheco (2012), Osgood (1933a), Pacheco, Cadenillas et al. (2009), Pacheco, Salas et al. (2013), Sahley et al. (2015), Tirira (2007), Tomes (1860), Voss (2003).