381.

Gray-bellied Rice Rat

Nephelomys moerex

French: Néphélomys a ventre gris / German: Graubauch-Reisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera de vientre gris

Other common names: Gray-bellied Nephelomys, Dark Cloud Forest Rice Rat

Taxonomy. Oryzomys albigularis moerex Thomas, 1914, “Mindo, N.W. of Quito [Pichincha, Ecuador]. Alt. 4200’ [= 1280 m].”

Nephelomys moerex was originally considered a subspecies of Oryzomys albigularis . It remained that way until it was recognized as a distinct species when the genus Nephelomys was established for O. albigularis and related species in 2006. Monotypic.

Distribution. NW & SW slopes of Volcan Pichincha and Rio Mindo drainage, NW Ecuador.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 114-160 mm, tail 139-169 mm, ear 18-22 mm, hindfoot 32-35 mm; weight 42 g. The Gray-bellied Rice Rat is small species of Nephelomys; tail is longer than head-body length and usually bicolored; dorsal pelage is dense, lax, short, and ocherous brown overall, finely grizzled with dark brown; and venter is grayish, without patches of single-colored hairs.

Habitat. Primary forests at elevations of 1200-2800 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The [UCN Red List.

Bibliography. Percequillo (2003, 2015g), Thomas (1914a), Weksler et al. (2006).