396.

Foothill Arboreal Rice Rat

Oecomys superans

French: Oecomys des piémonts / German: \Westamazonien-Baumreisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera arboricola de ladera

Other common names: Large Oecomys

Taxonomy. Oecomys superans Thomas, 1911, “Canelos, Rio Bobonaza, [Pastaza,| Oriente of Ecuador. Alt. 2100’ [= 640 m].”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. SC Colombia, E Ecuador, E Peru, and extreme W Brazil.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 135-165 mm, tail 150-184 mm, ear 21 mm, hindfoot 28-31 mm; weight 66-104 g. The Foothill Arboreal Rice Rat is the largest species in Qecomys. Fur is soft, fine, and moderately long (8-10 mm over mid-rump); dorsal-ventral transition is moderately defined, usually without ocherous lateral line. Overall, upperparts are dark ocherous brown, generally with stronger concentration of blackish brown over mid-dorsum and paler toward sides. Underparts are dull grayish white to dirty gray, tinged or washed with buff in some specimens whose venters appear dark grayish buff; individual hairs are gray basally and tipped with buff. Tail is ¢.111% of head-body length and uniformly dark brown above and below; caudal hairs are short and expose fine scale rows, without formation of terminal tuft or pencil. Pinnae appear small and closely rounded. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 80, FN = 108.

Habitat. Lowland tropical forest from sea level up to elevations of 1800 m, but mostly below 400 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Foothill Arboreal Rice Rats are nocturnal, terrestrial, and arboreal; the few specimens trapped along Jurua River were caught on the ground.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Carleton & Musser (2015), Patton et al. (2000), Weksler & Tirira (2016b).