506.

Robust Dark Rice Rat

Melanomys robustulus

French: Mélanomys robuste / German: Robuste Dunkelreisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera robusta

Other common names: Robust Melanomys

Taxonomy. Melanomys robustulus Thomas, 1914, Gualaquiza, 2500 m, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E Ecuador and N Peru.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 122 mm,tail 92 mm, ear 16 mm, hindfoot 27 mm. See general characters of the genus under the Black-and-Yellow Rice Rat ( M. chrysomelas) account. The Robust Dark Rice Rat is the largest species of Melanomys, with coppery brown dorsum and a little lighter venter. Fur is close and crisp and of medium length (c.8 mm). Forefeet, hindfeet, and tail are uniformly black.

Habitat. Lowland rainforest at elevations of 400-1200 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Musser & Carleton (2005), Thomas (1914a), Tinoco (2016), Weksler & Léss (2015).