606.

Wetzel’s Climbing Rat

Rhipidomys wetzeli

French: Rhipidomys de Wetzel / German: \Wetzel-Neuweltklettermaus / Spanish: Rata trepadora de Wetzel

Other common names: \Wetzel's Climbing Mouse, Wetzel's Rhipidomys

Taxonomy. Rhipidomys wetzeli Gardner, 1990, Cerro de la Neblina, 1800 m, Amazonas, Venezuela.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. S Venezuela (states of Amazonas and Bolivar) and extreme W Guyana (Mt Roraima); it may occur in N Brazil.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 63-103 mm, tail 82-130 mm, ear 15-19 mm, hindfoot 21-25 mm; weight 20-39 g. Wetzel’s Climbing Rat is very small, characterized by long, soft fur, with bright orange dorsum, finely streaked with black. Sides are paler than dorsum, and venter has cream or pale orange hair tips over dark gray bases. Tail is uniformly medium to dark brown, long (130-150% of head-body length), inconspicuously covered with short hair proximally but terminating in long pencil extending ¢.20 mm from terminal caudal vertebra. Ears are conspicuously darker than back. Hindfeet are short, with dark patch over metatarsal region that may be restricted to small spot at bases of toes.

Habitat. Cloud forests at elevations of 1032-1850 m. Wetzel’s Climbing Rats occur on the tepui table mountains of the Guiana Shield.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. The holotype of Wetzel’s Climbing Rat was a lactating female trapped in December; her uterus had two embryonic scars.

Activity patterns. Wetzel’s Climbing Rat is mostly captured on logs above the ground.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Aguilera et al. (2016), Gardner (1990), Handley (1976), Tribe (1996, 2015), Voss et al. (2001).