202.

Dusky-footed Woodrat

Neotoma fuscipes

French: Néotoma a pattes noires / German: Dunkelful 3-Buschratte / Spanish: Rata de bosque de pies oscuros

Other common names: San Joaquin Valley Woodrat; Riparian Woodrat (riparia)

Taxonomy. Neotoma fuscipes Baird, 1858, Petaluma, Sonoma County, California, USA .

Neotoma fuscipes was divided into two species, with N. fuscipes representing more northern populations and N. macrotis representing southern populations. Six subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

N.f.fuscipesBaird,1858—KlamathMtsandSierraNevadainSWOregonandNCalifornia(WUSA).

N.f.annectensElliot,1898—coastalareaSofSanFranciscoBay,WCalifornia(WUSA).

N.f.bullatiorHooper,1938—restrictedtoasmallrangeinSWCalifornia(WUSA).

N.f.monochrouraRhoads,1894—CoastRangesinOregonandNCalifornia(NWUSA).

N.f.perplexaHooper,1938—CoastRangeSofSanFranciscoBay,WCalifornia(WUSA).

N. f. nparia Hooper, 1938 — Diablo Range in WC California (W USA).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 177-227 mm, tail 158-241 mm, ear 24-36 mm, hindfoot 32-47 mm; weight 200-312 g. The Dusky-footed Woodrat is mediumto large-sized. It is generally dark brown and has long unicolored tail. Feet are dark on top, henceits common name. It is similar in most mensural characteristics to the Big-eared Woodrat (N. macrotis), but some studies provide qualitative characteristics that distinguish the two: the Dusky-footed Woodrat has oblong-shaped phallus in contrast to flower-shaped phallus of the Big-eared Woodrat and the vomeris smaller, and presphenoid is wider compared with basisphenoid.

Habitat. Densely vegetated chaparral, sage-scrub, woodlands, and conifer forests in coastal and inner-coastal montane regions of western California and western Oregon.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Dusky-footed Woodrat includes a wide variety of plant material, especially evergreen material.

Breeding. Breeding season is variable but generally occurs in February-September. Dusky-footed Woodrats generally have one litter per year, and litters have 1-4 young (average 2-6 young).

Activity patterns. Dusky-footed Woodrats are basically diurnal, but they are generally more active at night. Individuals rattle their tails against foliage or other vegetation when alarmed.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Dusky-footed Woodrats have been recorded 800-900 m from points of initial capture. They are solitary and generally considered to be territorial. They construct very large, conical nests more than 2 m in both diameter and height on the ground in dense shrub thickets, and also build nests in limb crotches in the canopy oflive oaks.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Subspecies riparia is US federally listed as endangered. The Dusky-footed Woodrat is generally abundantin suitable habitat.

Bibliography. Baird (1858), Brylski, P (1990d), Carraway & Verts (1991), Elliot (1898), Hooper (1938), Matocq (2002), Rhoads (1894).