610.

McConnell’s Tepui Climbing Rat

Rhipidomys macconnelli

French: Rhipidomys de McConnell / German: Tepui-Neuweltklettermaus / Spanish: Rata trepadora de McConell

Other common names: Macconnell’s Climbing Mouse, Macconnell’s Tepui Rhipidomys, Tepui Rhipidomys

Taxonomy. Rhipidomys macconnelli de Winton, 1900, “summit of [Mount] Roraima, Demerara,” Guyana.

Subspecies subnubis, described as a paler, browner, short-furred, zonal race of macconnelli from elevations of ¢.900-1200 m is considered to represent only clinal variation. Monotypic.

Distribution. Guiana Shield tepuis in S Venezuela and adjacent areas of Guyana and N Brazil.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 102-123 mm, tail 148-181 mm, ear 18-22 mm, hindfoot 27-29 mm; weight 26-50 g. Females are slightly smaller than males. Mc-Connell’s Tepui Climbing Rat is moderately small, resembling species of Thomasomys in many external characteristics. Pelage is sleek, long, soft, dark chocolate-brown dorsally, and dark slate overlaid with cream or pale brown ventrally. Tail is 140-150% of head-body length but more slender than in most other species of Rhipidomys, ventral surface is pale and almost bare over much of its length but with pronounced terminal pencil 5-20 mm long. Hindfeet are longer relative to body length than in other species of Rhipidomys due to longer, narrow metatarsals. Dark patch on dorsum is poorly defined and medium-brown and covers most of dorsum. Heels and ankles are bare. Ears are dark brown, matching dorsal pelage.

Habitat. Very moist cloud forest and dwarf vegetation on tepuis and evergreen forests surrounding them at elevations from 750 m to more than 2600 m.

Food and Feeding. Diet is composed offruit, vegetal matter, ants, and termites.

Breeding. McConnell’s Tepui Climbing Rats with reproductive signals are recorded during dry season. Litters have c.3—4 young.

Activity patterns. McConnell’s Tepui Climbing Rat is nocturnal. It occurs mainly on the ground and on cliffs, making runways under rocks and trees. The species is less specialized for arboreallife, as reflected in its longer and narrower metatarsals, slightly smaller and more separate plantar pads, and lack of body fur on ankles and wrists.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Aguilera (2016b), Handley (1976), Linares (1998), Tate (1939), Thomas (19064), Tribe (1996, 2015), Voss etal. (2001), de Winton (1900).