758.

La Pera Climbing Rat

Ototylomys chiapensis

French: Tylomys de La Pera / German: La-Pera-Kletterratte / Spanish: Rata trepadora de La Pera

Other common names: La Pera Big-eared Climbing Rat

Taxonomy. Ototylomys chiapensis Porter et al., 2017, “Pozo de Petroleo, 11 km northwest (by road) Berriozabal, L.a Pera Conservation Area, Chiapas, Mexico.”

Ototylomys chiapensis is strongly differentated morphologically from O. phyllotis and might represent a new genus. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from two localities in Chiapas (El Ocote Biosphere Reserve and La Pera Conservation Area), Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 139-194 mm, tail 135-174 mm, ear 20-27 mm, hindfoot 30-34 mm; weight 55-165 g (mean 103 g). The La Pera Climbing Rat is slightly larger than the Big-eared Climbing Rat ( O. phyllotis). Dorsum is brown, with irregular and indistinct rust-colored patches medially. Venter has white patches in pectoral and inguinal regions and is mottled tan-brown. Tail is long and scaly and appears hairless. Ears are hairless, broad, oval, thin, and translucent. Hindfeet are long. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 48, FN = 84, with 19 pairs of biarmed chromosomes and four acrocentric pairs.

Habitat. Montane karst rainforests at elevations of ¢.700-1100 m.

Food and Feeding. Captive La Pera Climbing Rats eat sunflower seeds but rarely fresh fruit.

Breeding. Female La Pera Climbing Rats collected in December had no reproductive signals. Two females that were pregnant when caught each produced single offspring in captivity.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Based on area of occupancy and potential reduction in extent and quality of habitat, the La Pera Climbing Rat likely qualifies as Critically Endangered.

Bibliography. Porter et al. (2017), Rogers et al. (2005).