617.

Cerrado Climbing Rat

Rhipidomys macrurus

French: Rhipidomys du Cerrado / German: Cerrado-Neuweltklettermaus / Spanish: Rata trepadora del Cerrado

Other common names: Cerrado Climbing Mouse, Cerrado Rhipidomys, Long-tailed Rhipidomys

Taxonomy. Mus (Hesperomys) macrurus P. Gervais, 1855, Crixas, Goias, Brazil.

Considerably more research is needed to elucidate status of all forms currently included in R. macrurus . Monotypic.

Distribution. NE & C Brazil (Piaui, Tocantins, Bahia, Goias, Distrito Federal, Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, and Mato Grosso do Sul states) and NE Paraguay.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 113-157 mm, tail 136-190 mm, ear 23-30 mm, hindfoot 24-33 mm; weight 61-112 g (mean 75-7 g). The Cerrado Climbing Rat is medium-sized, with dull, reddish gray-brown dorsal pelage; underparts are white or pale cream, frequently with gray bases to hairs. Tail slightly longer than head-body length (100-120%, occasionally up to 140%) and terminates in pencil usually 5-15 mm long;tail is medium to dark reddish brown, occasionally paler on proximal one-half. Ears are large and medium brown. Hindfeet are moderately long and relatively broad and robust; dark dorsal patch is either distinctly outlined or diffuse, either narrow or broad, occasionally extending onto digits; and sides of feet and digits golden.

Habitat. Gallery forests lining rivers through savanna-like cerrados, woodland savanna (“cerradao”), and semideciduous forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. In southernmost Atlantic Forest, a subadult female with a closed vagina was recorded in February, and a lactating adult female with no embryos was trapped in October.

Activity patterns. The Cerrado Climbing Rat is nocturnal. Individuals were trapped in canopies and on the ground.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Carmignotto & Aires (2011), Costa et al. (2011), Dietz (1983), Mares, Braun & Gettinger (1989), Mares, Ernest & Gettinger (1986), Mesquita (2009), Milano (2007), Patton, Catzeflis et al. (2016b), de la Sancha et al. (2011), Souza (2011).