765.

Mira Climbing Rat

Tylomys mirae

French: Tylomys du Mira / German: Mira-Kletterratte / Spanish: Rata trepadora de Mira

Other common names: Southern Climbing Rat

Taxonomy. T ylomys mirae Thomas, 1899, “Paramba, River Mira [Imbabura], N. Ecuador, altitude 1100 m.” Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

T:m.miraeThomas,1899—WColombiaandNWEcuador.

T. m. bogotensis Goodwin, 1955 — C Colombia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 230 mm, tail 266 mm; weight 200-255 g. The Mira Climbing Rat is slightly larger than other species of Tylomys . Hair is dense, with varying shades of gray and light tawny tinge dorsally and white to cream ventrally. Hindlegs are brown, with white fingers. Tail is longer than body, bicolored, light brown at base, and white at tip. Ears are large, bare, and gray. Skull is not as elongated as in Watson’s Climbing Rat (7. watsoni). Cranial vault is flattened and depressed toward interorbital region.

Habitat. Tropical rain forest, dense forest with tall trees (up to 30 m), vines, and abundant epiphytes, at elevations of 200-1300 m.

Food and Feeding. Like other members of the genus, the Mira Climbing Rat probably eats fruits and shoots of plants.

Breeding. Female Mira Climbing Rats give birth to 1-3 young.

Activity patterns. The Mira Climbing Ratis probably nocturnal and semi-arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Mira Climbing Ratis solitary and seeks refuge under logs and in small cavities in the soil or tree holes,just above the ground.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Populations of Mira Climbing Rats are likely stable across a broad distribution; it probably occurs in several protected areas.

Bibliography. Alvarez-Castafieda (2015), Cuartas-Calle & Mufioz-Arango (2003), Espinoza (2002), Goodwin (1955b), Musser & Carleton (2005), Nowak (1999), Rodriguez-Moreno et al. (2014), Suérez et al. (1995), Thomas (1899c), Tirira (2008, 2017), Tirira & Burneo (2011), Vazquez (2016), Wilson & Cole (2000).