599.

Lesser Colombian Climbing Rat

Rhaprdomys caucensis

French: Rhipidomys du Cauca / German: Cauca-Neuweltklettermaus / Spanish: Rata trepadora de Colombia pequena

Other common names: Cauca Climbing Mouse, Colombian Rhipidomys

Taxonomy. Rhipidomys caucensis J. A. Allen, 1913, Cerro Munchique, 8225 feet [= 2507 m |, Cauca, Colombia.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Andes in W Colombia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 103 mm, tail 133 mm, hindfoot 22 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Lesser Colombian Climbing Rat is small, with bright orange-brown dorsum and cream or pale orange hair tips over dark gray bases on venter. Tail is longer than head-body length and medium to dark brown, with hairs lengthening over distal 25% and terminating in moderately long pencil (10-15 mm). Ears are very dark. Hindfeet are short and proportionately narrower than in most other species of Rhipidomys, with poorly defined dorsal dark patch that contrasts sharply with pale digits.

Habitat. Primary cloud forests at elevations of 1830-3500 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Lesser Colombian Climbing Rat is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The species is known only from twelve specimens.

Bibliography. Allen (1913a), Gémez-Laverde & Rivas (2008), Pacheco (2003), Tribe (1996, 2015).