Eliurus petteri, Carleton, 1994

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 : 188

13.

Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat

Eliurus petteri

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

Other common names: Petters Tuft-tailed Rat

Taxonomy. Eliurus petteri Carleton, 1994 ,

“ 8 km from Fanovana ,” Toamasina Province, Madagascar .

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to C part of E Madagascar (Toamasina Province).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 133 mm, tail 191 mm; weight 74 g. There are no more specific measurements for Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat. Dorsum is grayish brown, and venter is crisp white; it is easily recognizable from adults of other species of Eliurus by this distinct color contrast. Distal one-fourth oftail is covered with sparse grayish brown hair, forming small terminal tuft that is white in some individuals. Tarsi are gray, and feet and toes are completely white.

Habitat. Eastern humid lowland and montane forest at elevations of 430-1200 m.

Food and Feeding. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat is presumed to be largely a granivore and to a lesser extent frugivore and insectivore.

Breeding. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat has three pairs of mammae.

Activity patterns. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat is presumed to be nocturnal and scansorial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red Lust. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat is forest-dwelling and is known from a very restricted area of humid forest in the central-eastern part of Madagascar. Its extent of occurrence is ¢.1500 km*. Given its apparent restricted distribution and continued declines in the natural forest of this region, its mediumand long-term future is uncertain.

Bibliography. Carleton (1994, 2003), Goodman et al. (2013), Rakotondraparany & Medard (2005), 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 C part of E Madagascar (Toamasina Province).