609.

Splendid Climbing Rat

Rhipidomys nitela

French: Rhipidomys splendide / German: Pracht-Neuweltklettermaus / Spanish: Rata trepadora magnifica

Other common names: Guianan Rhipidomys, Splendid Climbing Mouse

Taxonomy. Rhipidomys nitela Thomas, 1901, “Kwaimattat [= Kwatata], Kanuku Mits.,” Upper Takutu—Upper Essequibo, Guyana.

Important karyological and molecular diversity is found in populations referred to R. nitela from south-eastern Venezuela, Brazilian—Venezuelan border, French Guiana, and Brazilian Amazon region. More extensive molecular analyses are needed to elucidate diversity contained within R. nitela as understood here. Monotypic.

Distribution. Amazonian lowlands in S Venezuela, the Guianas, and NC Brazil; also recorded on Little Tobago I.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 108-135 mm, tail 152-179 mm, ear 17-20 mm, hindfoot 24-28 mm; weight 44-68 g. The Splendid Climbing Rat is medium-sized, with coarse, short, dull gray-brown to richer reddish or orange brown dorsal pelage; ventral pelage is short and creamy white to roots or with inconspicuous pale gray hair bases. Tail is moderately long (110-140% of head-body length), with caudal hairs increasing in length from base to tip, where longest hairs form conspicuous terminal tuft 10-15 mm long. Ears are pale to dark and moderately large in size, sometimes with pale post-auricular patch. Hindfeet are short and slender, with small plantar pads and dorsal dark patch of varying distinctness rarely extending onto digits.

Habitat. Forested lowlands throughout Guiana Highlands at elevations below 1400 m. Several Splendid Climbing Rats were captured in rafters or thatched roofs of buildings.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. A pregnant Splendid Climbing Rat with two fetuses (crown-rump length 20 mm) and three pairs of mammae positioned inguinally, abdominally, and postaxially was recorded in April.

Activity patterns. The Splendid Climbing Rat is primarily arboreal but also can be trapped on the ground.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Husson (1978), Lim, Engstrom, Genoways et al. (2005), Malcolm (1988, 1990, 1991), Patton, Catzeflis et al. (2016d), Tribe (1996, 2015), Volobouev & Catzeflis (2000), Voss et al. (2001).