406.

Russet Rice Rat

Euryoryzomys russatus

French: Oryzomys roux / German: Rostbraune Reisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera bermeja

Other common names: Russet Euryoryzomys, Russet Oryzomys

Taxonomy. Hesperomys russatus Wagner, 1848, Ipanema, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E Brazil (from Ceara S to N Rio Grande do Sul states), E Paraguay, and NE Argentina (Misiones Province).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 98-179 mm, tail 99-181 mm, ear 18-5-25 mm, hindfoot 28-5-40 mm; weight 20-100 ¢g (mean 60 g). The Russet Rice Rat is very similar to the Elegant Rice Rat (FE. nitidus), but it has greater external and cranial dimensions. Compared with the Elegant Rice Rat, the Russet Rice Rat has longer and brighter dorsal pelage, shorter incisive foramina, and small sphenopalatine vacuities.

Habitat. Forested coastal plains, evergreen semideciduous forest of coastal highlands, and coastal islands.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Russet Rice Rat contains fruit, vegetal matter, and arthropods.

Breeding. The Russet Rice Rat breeds year-round. Females reaches sexual maturity at c.115 days old and can have more than 6 litters/year.

Activity patterns. Trapping data suggests that the Russet Rice Rat is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges are 0-16-1-1 ha; average of density is 5-3 ind/ha. The Russet Rice Rat uses dry leaves and grass to build egg-shaped nests around fallen logs and aerial roots.

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

Bibliography. Bergallo (1994), Bovendorp et al. (2017), Briani et al. (2001), Libardi & Percequillo (2016), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pardini (2004), Percequillo (2015d), Percequillo, Weksler, Langguth et al. (2016).