Eliurus danieli, Carleton & Goodman, 2007

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 : 186

6.

Daniel’s Tufted-tail Rat

Eliurus danieli

French: Rat-loir de Daniel / German: Daniel-Bilchschwanz / Spanish: Rata de cola de penacho de Daniel

Other common names: Daniel's Tuft-tailed Rat

Taxonomy. Eliurus danieli Carleton & Goodman, 2007 ,

“ Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province, Parc National de I’' Isalo , 28 km SE Berenty-Betsileo , along Sahanafa River near foot of Bevato Mountain , 650 m; geographic coordinates: 22°19.0’S, 45°17.6 'E.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to S Central Highlands of Madagascar.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 150-152 mm, tail 179 mm, 195 mm (two individuals); weight 91-100 g. Daniel's Tuftedtail Rat is easily recognizable by its gray dorsum that contrasts with grayish white venter. Flanks have brownish appearance. It has relatively long ears for a species of Eliwrus. Tail is covered with black hair along its distal one-half, which progressively become longer and white ¢.12-15 mm toward distal tip. Tarsi are brown, and feet and toes are white.

Habitat. Only known from sandstone canyons with transitional western dry and eastern humid forest vegetation or gallery forest at elevations of 600-700 m. Daniel’s Tufted-tail Rat is notstrictly forest-dependent; a few individuals have been captured in close proximity but outside of natural forest.

Food and Feeding. Daniel’s Tufted-tail Rat is presumed to be largely granivorous.

Breeding. Daniel’s Tufted-tail Rat have three pairs of mammae.

Activity patterns. Daniel’s Tufted-tail Rat is nocturnal and terrestrial. All known species have been captured at base of large exposed sedimentary rock outcrops.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Daniel's Tufted-tail Rat is known from two localities in the Malagasy dry deciduous forests in the immediate vicinity of Isalo in the central west. Given its notably restricted distribution and continued declines in natural forests of this region, its mediumand long-term future is uncertain.

Bibliography. Carleton & Goodman (2007), Goodman et al. (2013), 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 S Central Highlands of Madagascar.