503.

Cinnamon-rufous Rice Rat

Melanomys idoneus

French: Mélanomys roux / German: Zimtrote Dunkelreisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera canela

Taxonomy. Oryzomys idoneus Goldman, 1912, Cerro Azul, 2500 ft, near the headwaters of the Chagres River, Panama.

Melanomys idoneus is resurrected from M. caliginosus based on molecular grounds, but taxonomy is still uncertain. Monotypic.

Distribution. EC Panama; limits unresolved.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 113-130 mm, tail 76-99 mm, hindfoot 25-30 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. See general characters of the genus under the Black-and-Yellow Rice Rat ( M. chrysomelas) account. Upperparts of the Cinnamon-rufous Rice Rat are cinnamon rufous, heavily and finely mixed with black, usually uniform, but black predominating on rump in some individuals; flanks are somewhat paler; outer sides of limbs are dark brownish cinnamon; underparts are dark tawny ocherous, with under color showing through; ears, feet, and tail are thinly covered with short hairs, with hairs and epidermis blackish. Compared with the Black-and-Yellow Rice Rat, the Cinnamon-rufous Rice Rat is yellower and less rufous.

Habitat. Heavily forested hill slopes at elevations of 550-850 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Pregnant or lactating Cinnamon-rufous Rice Rats were recorded in May, July, August, and November.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List as a separate species from the Dusky Rice Rat ( M. caliginosus), which is classified as Least Concern.

Bibliography. Allen (1913b), Fleming (1970b), Goldman (1912a, 1918a), Hanson & Bradley (2008).