Proechimys mincae (J. A. Allen, 1899)

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 : 577

47.

Minca Spiny-rat

Proechimys mincae

French: Rat-épineux de Minca / German: Minca-Kurzstachelratte / Spanish: Rata espinosa de Minca

Taxonomy. Echimys mincae J. A. Allen, 1899 ,

“Minca, Santa Marta District,” Magdalena, Colombia.

Proechimys mincaeis a member of the trinitatisspecies group. Monotypic.

Distribution. N Colombia, Lower Rio Magdalena Valley in low-elevation areas of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 220-230 mm, tail 200-210 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Minca Spiny-rat is moderately large, with proportionately long tail (¢.90% of headbody length). Dorsum is reddish brown speckled with black, becoming slightly paler on sides; venteris white from chin to inguinal region but varyingly bordered by light buff margins. White inner thigh stripe passes weakly across ankle to be confluent with basically dirty white dorsal surface of hindfoot, with toes only slightly darker. All plantar pads are enlarged and well developed, with thenar and hypothenar sub-equal in size. Tail is bicolored, brownish gray above and pale cream below. It is thinly haired with large, irregularly shaped scales, that are readily visible to the eye; scale annuli average 8-9/cm. Aristiform spines are long (20-22 mm) and thin (0-6— 0-8 mm) but stiff, giving pelage raspy texture when brushed. Tip of each aristiform may terminate in short, whip-like extension or be blunt. Skull of the Minca Spiny-rat is similar to those of most species of Proechimys : elongated, relatively narrow, and with tapering rostrum. Temporal region of braincase is smooth, lacking virtually any evidence of ridges extending posterior to supraorbital ledge. Incisive foramina are wide and with somewhat rounded sides giving opening an oval shape; posterolateral flanges are non-existent or so weakly developed that anterior palate lacks grooves; premaxillary part of septum is well developed and long, filling more than one-half the distance of opening, but either does not or only rarely contacts greatly attenuated maxillary part; mid-palate may have small medial ridge, but small maxillary part of septum lacks any hint of keel; and vomer can often be seen in ventral view. Groove marking passage of infraorbital nerve and defined by lateral flange is present on floor of infraorbital foramen. Mesopterygoid fossa is moderately broad, opens at an angle averaging 57°, and penetrates posterior palate to level of M2. Cheekteeth are relatively simple, with never more than three folds above, but often only two on M? and especially M*lower cheekteeth typically have three folds on dP, but only two on each molar; counterfold formula is 3-3-2(3)-2(3) /3-2-2-2. Baculum of the Minca Spiny-rat is long (length 7-:3-9-9 mm) and stout (proximal width 2:4-2-9 mm);distal width 2:4-2-9 mm), similar in size and shape to that of other species in the trinitatisspecies group, except for that of the Guianan Spiny-rat ( P. hoplomyoides ). Chromosomal complement is 2n = 48 and FN = 68.

Habitat. Tropical forests around lower flanks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia from sea level to elevations of ¢.500 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Minca Spiny-rat presumably eats fruit, seeds, and other plant parts.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Minca Spiny-rat is presumably terrestrial and 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. Additional studies on distribution, habitat, abundance, ecology, and conservation threats of Minca Spiny-rat are needed.

Bibliography. Allen (1899a, 1899b), Eisenberg (1989), Ellerman (1940), Emmons (1990, 1997a), Gardner & Emmons (1984), Patton (1987), Patton & Gardner (1972), Patton & Leite (2015), Patton & Reig (1989), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).

Figures

12. Broad-headed Spiny-rat (Clyomys laticeps), 13. Guiara (Euryzygomatomys spinosus), 14. White-spined Spiny-rat (Irinomys albispinus), 15. Elias’s Spiny-rat (Trinomys eliasi), 16. Rigid-spined Atlantic Spiny-rat (Trinomys paratus), 17. Yonenaga’s Spiny-rat (Trinomys yonenagae), 18. Elegant-spined Atlantic Spiny-rat (Trinomys setosus), 19. Moojen’s Spiny-rat (Trinomys moojeni), 20. Pau Brasil Spiny-rat (Trinomys mirapitanga), 21. Rio de Janeiro Spiny-rat (Trinomys dimidiatus), 22. Sao Paulo Spiny-rat (Trinomys thering), 23. Gracile Atlantic Spiny-rat (Trinomys gratiosus), 24. Sao Lourenco Punare (Thrichomys laurentius), 25. Jacobina Punare (Thrichomys inermis), 26. Lagoa Santa Punare (Thrichomys apereoides), 27. Pantanal Punare (Thrichomys pachyurus), 28. Foster’s Punare (Thrichomys fosteri), 29. Painted Tree-rat (Callistomys pictus), 30. Coypu (Myocastor coypus), 31. Armored Rat (Hoplomys gymnurus)

Distribution. N Colombia, Lower Rio Magdalena Valley in low-elevation areas of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.