612.

Cariri Climbing Rat

Rhipidomys cariri

French: Rhipidomys des Cariris / German: Cariri-Neuweltklettermaus / Spanish: Rata trepadora de Cariri

Other common names: Cariri Climbing Mouse, Cariri Rhipidomys

Taxonomy. Rhipidomys cariri Tribe, 2005, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.

Validity of the subspecies baturiteensis requires reevaluation. Monotypic.

Distribution. NE Brazil (Ceara, Pernambuco, and N Bahia).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 130-190 mm, tail 143-266 mm, hindfoot 27-30 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Cariri Climbing Rat is moderately large, with tail 110-140% of head-body length. Dorsum is yellowish gray-brown, often somewhat grayer, sometimes redder, but always with conspicuousflecking from dark guard hairs and dark tips of body hairs. Venter is white or pale cream. Pelage texture is sligh.

Habitat. Semiarid caatinga in isolated mesic forests (“brejos”) maintained by orographic rainfall. Cariri Climbing Rats from Crato, Brazil, were captured in cultivated fields (rice, beans, maize, manioc, and sugarcane), palms, and unidentified trees.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Two female Cariri Climbing Rats each had four embryos in late July; six of seven males captured between mid-August and early September had enlarged testes.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Costa et al. (2011), Patton, Catzeflis, Weksler & Percequillo (2008a), Tribe (1996, 2005, 2015).