463.

Medium-tailed Rice Rat

Eremoryzomys mesocaudis

French: Oryzomys a queue médiane / German: Kleine Maranén-Reisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera de cola mediana

Taxonomy. Eremoryzomys mesocaudis Uturunco & Pacheco, 2016, Copallin, Bagua, Amazonas, Peru.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from a handful of localities in NW Peru (Amazonas Region).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 120-140 mm, tail 113-145 mm, ear 17-21 mm, hindfoot 25-30 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Dorsal pelage of the Mediumtailed Rice Rat is brown-cinnamon. Venteris between light neutral and pale neutral gray, with black or gray base hairs. Snout has black line. Mystacial vibrissae are short and reach anterior edges of ears. Manus has curved and large claws. Hindfeet have developed pads; hypothenar is rounded and notable, and thenar is elongated and very close to hypothenar. Tail is weakly bicolored,less than or almost equal to head-body length (c.95%), and has small scales. Female has four pairs of mammae: one axial pair, one pectoral, one abdominal, and one inguinal pair.

Habitat. Dry and premontane forests of upper and middle basins of Rio Maranon that includes transition between dry forest and high montane forest, open forested areas with thin and spaced trees (10 m canopy), undergrowth with large shrubs (2 m), and lichens at elevations of 463-859 m. These areas also include secondary vegetation, emphasizing cultures of cacao and rice.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Medium-tailed Rice Rat is terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Percequillo (2015¢), Uturunco & Pacheco (2016), Weksler et al. (2006).