Trinomys mirapitanga, Lara, Patton & Hingst-Zaher, 2002

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Echimyidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 552-604 : 563

20.

Pau Brasil Spiny-rat

Trinomys mirapitanga

French: Rat-épineux des mirapitangas / German: Mirapitanga-Atlantikstachelratte / Spanish: Rata espinosa de dorso 0 Scuro

Other common names: Dark-caped Atlantic Spiny-rat

Taxonomy. Trinomys mirapitanga Lara, Patton & Hingst-Zaher, 2002 ,

“Estacao Ecologica do Pau Brasil, 16 km W Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil, 16°22’S 39°11'W, 40 m alt.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E Brazil, S coast of Bahia State.

Descriptive notes. Head-body mean 216— 225 mm,tail 185-201 mm; weight 259 g. The Pau Brasil Spiny-rat is medium-sized compared with congeners. Overall color is much darker along mid-dorsal region than in other species, forming dark cape on middle of back that contrasts with much paler sides. Aristiforms on mid-back are smoky-gray at bases, have ocherous buff mid-zone, and are dark brown attips. Lateral setiform hairs typically have four color bands, drabgray at bases followed by smoky-gray and ocherous buff, and terminating in blacktips. Bicolored tail is ¢.80% of head-body length, covered with short hairs. Aristiforms are long (mean 24-9 mm), wide (1-5 mm) at mid-dorsum,shorter, and slightly narrower laterally. Hairs on forefeet and hindfeet are white dorsally. Skull is large, averaging 52-4 mm in length. Incisive foramina are oval, short (c.30% of diastema), and constrict posteriorly; septum is complete and columnar; and vomer does not contribute to ventral aspect of septum. Post-orbital processes of zygoma are rounded, with jugal and squamosal contributions;it never forms sharp spine. Auditory bullae are smooth and of moderate size. Upper molariform teeth have three primary folds, with rudimentary fourth on M?; lower teeth also have three folds, the first smallest. Baculum is shorter than most other species of Trinomys (length 7-9 mm in one available adult male); has weakly developed distal wings and broad basal expansion that are strongly flexed ventrally; and median trough is evident along dorsal surface of basal part. Karyotype is unknown.

Habitat. [Lowland secondary forest in Atlantic Forest; elevation of the two known localities are 20 m and 40 m. Holotype and two paratypes were collected in a biological reserve established to protect one of the largest remaining stands of brazilwood, or pernambuco tree ( Caesalpinia echinata, Fabaceae ), an important commercial species for wood products and dye that has been heavily exploited.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but Pau Brasil Spiny-rat probably feeds on a variety of plant materials, including fruit and seeds, and insects.

Breeding. There is no information available forthis species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Pau Brasil Spiny-rat is presumed to be primarily nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Pau Brasil Spiny-rat has a small distribution, and there is an absence of data on local status or ecological requirements. One of the two known populations is within Pau Brasil National Park, a reserve established to protect brazilwood.

Bibliography. Lara et al. (2002), Pessb6a, Tavares, de Oliveira & Patton (2015).

Figures

Distribution. E Brazil, S coast of Bahia State.