397.

Dusky Arboreal Rice Rat

Oecomys phaeotis

French: Oecomys du Pérou / German: Dunkle Baumreisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera arboricola oscura

Other common names: Dusky Oecomys

Taxonomy. Rhipidomys phaeotis Thomas, 1901, “Segrario, 13° 5’ S,, 70° 5° W., Upper Inambari, [Puno,] S.E. Peru. Alt. 1000 m. ” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E Andean slopes from NE Peru to C Bolivia; limits unresolved.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 102-118 mm, tail 107-123 mm, ear 14 mm, hindfoot 22-24 mm; weight 43-54 g. The Dusky Arboreal Rice Rat is medium-sized, with luxuriant, soft, dense, and long (10-12 mm over mid-rump) pelage. Dorsum is rich tawny brown in most specimens, darker along top of head and back than on sides. Venter is typically dull white (hairs white from tips to roots); demarcation between dorsal and ventral pelage is sharp and usually accentuated by bright ocherousstrip. Tail is ¢.110% of head-body length and dark brown on all surfaces; caudal hairs are relatively long, typically obscuring scale rows and forming noticeable tuft at tip (6-8 mm).

Habitat. [Lower montane forests on eastern Andean slopes at elevations of 600-2100 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Dusky Arboreal Rice Rats are nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Carleton & Musser (2015), Medina et al. (2012).