451.

Paracou Bristly Mouse

Neacomys paracou

French: Néacomys de Paracou / German: Paracou-Stachelreisratte / Spanish: Raton erizado de Paracou

Other common names: Paracou Neacomys, Paracou Spiny Mouse

Taxonomy. Neacomys paracou Voss, Lunde & Simmons, 2001, Paracou [= Domaine Experimental Paracou], French Guiana. Populations in Brazilian Para state apparently belong to an undescribed species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Extreme E Venezuela, the Guianas, and N Brazil (Amazonas, Para, and Amapa states).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 70-83 mm, tail 65-81 mm, ear 12-15 mm, hindfoot 18-21 mm; weight 10-19 g (mean 14 g). The Paracou Bristly Mouse is small, characterized by very short outer pedal digits and short, usually unicolored,tail (sometimes weakly bicolored basally), with large scales. Dorsum is coarsely grizzled tawny brown or reddish brown, somewhat paler on sides; venter is abruptly paler, often pure white from chin to anus, but sometimes with orange pectoral markings; broad lateral line of clear buff or orange separates dorsum and venter in many specimens; superciliary and genal vibrissae extend behind pinnae when laid back alongside head, but mystacial vibrissae are consistently shorter, not extending much if at all behind pinnae; and dorsal surfaces of manus and pes are covered with short pale fur. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 56, FN = 62 or 66.

Habitat. [Lowland and premontane moist broadleaf forests in the Guianan subregion of Amazonia. Paracou Bristly Mice were trapped mostly in secondary vegetation but also well-drained and swampy primary forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Paracou Bristly Mouse is terrestrial, and most specimens were caught at dawn. Individuals were caught in dense undergrowth near woody shelter at or near ground level.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Ardente et al. (2016), Catzeflis & Tilak (2009), Catzeflis, Patton & Percequillo (2008), da Silva et al. (2015), Voss et al. (2001), Weksler & Bonvicino (2015a).