482.

Trinidad Water Rat

Nectomys palmipes

French: Nectomys de Trinidad / German: Trinidad-Wasserratte / Spanish: Rata de agua de Trinidad

Other common names: Trinidad Nectomys

Taxonomy. Nectomys palmipes J. A. Allen & F. M. Chapman, 1893, “Princestown [Princes Town], Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago ” Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

N. p. palmipesJ. A. Allen & F. M. Chapman, 1893 — restricted to Trinidad I.

N. p. tatei Hershkovitz, 1948 — NE Venezuela, on the Paria Peninsula and Orinoco Delta.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 157-247 mm, tail 140-235 mm, ear 16-25 mm, hindfoot 47-51 mm; weight 130-347 g. Nectomys species are all semi-aquatic, and they are characterized mainly by the large size, presence of well-developed interdigital webbings and lateral fringes in hindfeet, and a keel of hairs disposed antero-posteriorly on ventral surface of the tail. Dorsum of the Trinidad Water Rat is pale yellowish brown, with an indistinct blackish mid-dorsal band from nose to tail. Posterior part of nasal is v-shaped, with conspicuous constriction at premaxillae/frontal suture; interparietal is deep and narrow. Chromosomal complementis the lowest known for oryzomyine rodents at 2n = 16-17, FN = 25, 26, 28, and 29.

Habitat. Vegetation along rivers and streams.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Trinidad Water Rat is nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Trinidad Water Rat presumably has a large overall population and is tolerant of some habitat disturbance.

Bibliography. Barros et al. (1992), Bonvicino & Weksler (2015), Chiquito (2015), Hershkovitz (1944), Musser & Carleton (2005), Ochoa, Aguilera, Rivas & Weksler (2016), Ochoa, Bevilacqua & Garcia (2005), Voss et al. (2001).