358.

Montane Red-rumped Tree Mouse

Juliomys rimofrons

French: Juliomys montagnard / German: Berg-Juliomaus / Spanish: Ratén arboricola de trasero rojo de montana

Other common names: Cleft-headed Juliomys

Taxonomy. Juliomys rimofrons J. A. Oliveira & Bonvicino, 2002, Brejo da Lapa, 2000 m, east of Pedra Furada, Serra da Mantiqueira, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Few scattered montane localities in Minas Gerais and neighboring states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, SE Brazil.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 85-93 mm, tail 99-121 mm, ear 15-18 mm, hindfoot 20-22 mm; weight 14-5-23 g. The Montane Red-rumped Tree Mouse is a mediumsized species of Juliomys, with brown nose and long and soft fur, brownish ocherous above, dark orangish on rump, and pale brown on venter. Dark eye-ring is present; hairs on neck and chin are whitish with gray bases, and those around mouth totally white; and tail is bicolored, dark above and whitish below, with distinct longitudinal line of blackish hairs extending mid-ventrally and entire ventral surface becoming darker toward tip, terminating in inconspicuous pencil of dark and whitish hairs. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 20, FN = 34.

Habitat. High altitude forest with Araucaria ( Araucariaceae) and patches of grasses and bromeliads.

Food and Feeding. No information. |

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Montane Red-rumped Tree Mouse is nocturnal. Although presumed to be arboreal, the few known specimens were trapped on the ground.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Montane Red-rumped Tree Mouse is known from only three isolated populations, and although they are protected, there are increasing threats from effects of isolation and small population size due to rarity. Total area of occupancy is less than 300 km?.

Bibliography. Bonvicino & Geise (2008), Christoff, Vieira et al. (2016), Fonseca et al. (2013), Oliveira & Bonvicino (2002), Sarti (2016).