Brachytarsomys villosus, Petter, 1962

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Nesomyidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 156-203 : 185

2.

Hairy-tailed Tree Rat

Brachytarsomys villosus

French: Antsangy a queue touffue / German: Nordliche Madagaskar \WeiRschwanzratte / Spanish: Rata arboricola de cola peluda

Other common names: Hairy-tailed Antsangy

Taxonomy. Brachytarsomys albicauda villosa [sic] Petter, 1962 ,

“ Vivarium de Tsimbazaza [= Parc botanique et zoologique de Tsimbazazal.”

Widely used name villosa has been changed for gender agreement. In 1990, M. D. Carleton and D. F. Schmidt proposed that it might occur in “vast areas of lowland forest around Antongil Bay or the forested slopes of Tsaratanana.” This species was indeed subsequently found on the slopes of Tsaratanana and neighboring Anjanaharibe-Sud Massif. F. Petter’s original subspecies villosus has been elevated to species rank. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to the Northern Highlands of Madagascar.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 228-245 mm, tail 260 mm, 272 mm (two individuals); weight 236-350 g. Muzzle of the Hairy-tailed Tree Rat is short, and fur is soft with woolly texture. Dorsum is grayish brown and merges to light gray or cream on flanks and venter. Feet are short and beige. Ears are short. Tail has relatively dense hair, distal portion is black, and last 8-10 mm are white. Tail is prehensile. Legs, digits, and toes are short. In some individuals, red on flanks extends onto dorsum.

Habitat. Eastern humid montane forest at elevations of 1200-2030 m.

Food and Feeding. Diet is presumably composed offruits, seeds, and perhaps foliage.

Breeding. Female Hairy-tailed Tree Rats have three pairs of mammae and maximum litters up to six young. Females carrying large embryos in late October have been observed, and males during this same period had developed scrotal testes. Subadults have been captured in April.

Activity patterns. The Hairy-tailed Tree Rat is nocturnal and strictly arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List (as B. villosa ). The Hairy-tailed Tree Rat is forest-dwelling and known from only five localities in mountains of northern Madagascar. Its extent of occurrence is 5514 km?. Given continued declines in forest cover in its limited distribution, its mediumand long-term future is uncertain.

Bibliography. Carleton & Goodman (2003a), Carleton & Schmidt (1990), Goodman, Ganzhorn & Rakotondravony (2003), Goodman, Soarimalala, Raheriarisena & Rakotondravony (2013), Goodman, Soarimalala & Rakotondravony (2001), Maminirina et al. (2008), Petter (1962), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011).

Figures

1. White-tailed Tree Rat (Brachytarsomys albicauda), 2. Hairy-tailed Tree Rat (Brachytarsomys villosus), 3. Sleek-furred Ground Rat (Gymnuromys robert), 4. Antsingy Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus antsingy), 5. Carleton’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus carletoni), 6. Daniel’s Tufted-tail Rat (Elurus daniels), 7. Ellerman’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus ellermani), 8. Grandidier’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus grandidieri), 9. Major's Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus majori), 10. Lesser Tufted-taill Rat (Elurus minor), 11. Milne-Edwards’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus myoxinus), 12. White-tailed Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus penicillatus), 13. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus petteri), 14. Tanala Tufted-taill Rat (Elwurus tanala), 15. Webb's Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus webbi), 16. Anjozorobe Naked-tail Forest Mouse (Voalavo antsahabensis), 17. Northern Naked-tail Forest Mouse (Voalavo gymnocaudus), 18. Bastard’s Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys bastardi), 19. Ankarafantsika Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys ingens), 20. Petter’s Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys peter), 21. Koopman' ’ s Forest Mouse (Monticolomys koopmani), 22. Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena), 23. Small Short-tailed Rat (Brachywromys betsileoensis), 24. Large Short-tailed Rat (Brachyuromys ramirohitra), 25. Audebert’s Forest Rat (Nesomys audeberti), 26. Lamberton’s Forest Rat (Nesomys lambertoni), 27. Red Forest Rat (Nesomys rufus), 28. Delany’s Swamp Mouse (Delanymys brooksi), 29. African White-tailed Rat (Mystromys albicaudatus), 30. Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus shortridger), 31. Short-eared Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus monticularis), 32. Barbour’s Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus barbouri), 33. Common Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus collinus)

Distribution. Endemic to the Northern Highlands of Madagascar.