Tylomys mirae, Thomas, 1899

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 535-536

765.

Mira Climbing Rat

Tylomys mirae

French: Tylomys du Mira / German: Mira-Kletterratte / Spanish: Rata trepadora de Mira

Other common names: Southern Climbing Rat

Taxonomy. T ylomys mirae Thomas, 1899 , “Paramba, River Mira [Imbabura], N. Ecuador, altitude 1100 m.” Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

T:m.miraeThomas,1899—WColombiaandNWEcuador.

T. m. bogotensis Goodwin, 1955 — C Colombia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 230 mm, tail 266 mm; weight 200-255 g. The Mira Climbing Rat is slightly larger than other species of Tylomys . Hair is dense, with varying shades of gray and light tawny tinge dorsally and white to cream ventrally. Hindlegs are brown, with white fingers. Tail is longer than body, bicolored, light brown at base, and white at tip. Ears are large, bare, and gray. Skull is not as elongated as in Watson’s Climbing Rat (7. watsoni ). Cranial vault is flattened and depressed toward interorbital region.

Habitat. Tropical rain forest, dense forest with tall trees (up to 30 m), vines, and abundant epiphytes, at elevations of 200-1300 m.

Food and Feeding. Like other members of the genus, the Mira Climbing Rat probably eats fruits and shoots of plants.

Breeding. Female Mira Climbing Rats give birth to 1-3 young.

Activity patterns. The Mira Climbing Ratis probably nocturnal and semi-arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Mira Climbing Ratis solitary and seeks refuge under logs and in small cavities in the soil or tree holes,just above the ground.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Populations of Mira Climbing Rats are likely stable across a broad distribution; it probably occurs in several protected areas.

Bibliography. Alvarez-Castafieda (2015), Cuartas-Calle & Mufioz-Arango (2003), Espinoza (2002), Goodwin (1955b), Musser & Carleton (2005), Nowak (1999), Rodriguez-Moreno et al. (2014), Suérez et al. (1995), Thomas (1899c), Tirira (2008, 2017), Tirira & Burneo (2011), Vazquez (2016), Wilson & Cole (2000).

Figures

725. Haggard’s Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis haggardi), 726. Andean Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis andium), 727. Peruvian Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis gerbillus), 728. Friendly Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis amicus), 729. Narrow-nasal Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis stenops), 730. Pearson’s Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis pearson), 731. Western Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis occidens), 732. Ancash Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis definitus), 733. Lima Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis limatus), 734. Master Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis magister), 735. Yellow-rumped Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis xanthopygus), 736. Osgood’s Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis osgoodi), 737. Bunch Grass Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis osilae), 738. Capricorn Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis caprinus), 739. Tucuman Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis tucumanus), 740. Walnut Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis nogalaris), 741. Darwin’s Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis darwinii), 742. Los Alisos Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis alisosiensis), 743. Anita’s Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis anitae), 744. Bonarian Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis bonariensis), 745. Wolffsohn’s Leaf-eared Mouse 1 (apecomys wolffsohni), 746. Tapecua Leaf-eared Mouse (Tapecomys primus), 747. Southern Big-eared Mouse (Loxodontomys micropus), 748. Delicate Salt Flat Mouse (Salinomys delicatus), 749. Pearson’s Chaco Mouse (Andalgalomys pearsoni), 750. Olrog’s Chaco Mouse (Andalgalomys olrogi), 751. Garlepp’s Mouse (Galenomys garleppii), 752. Painted Big-eared Mouse (Auliscomys pictus), 753. Bolivian Big-eared Mouse (Auliscomys boliviensis), 754. Andean Big-eared Mouse (Auliscomys sublimis), 755. Sumichrast’s Vesper Rat (Nyctomys sumichrasti), 756. Yucatan Vesper Rat (Otonyctomys hatti), 757. Big-eared Climbing Rat (Ototylomys phyllotis), 758. La Pera Climbing Rat (Ototylomys chiapensis), 759. Peters’s Climbing Rat (Tylomys nudicaudus), 760. Chiapan Climbing Rat (Tylomys bullaris), 761. Tumbala Climbing Rat 1 (ylomys tumbalensis), 762. Watson’s Climbing Rat (Tylomys watsoni), 763. Fulvous-bellied Climbing Rat (Tylomys fulviventer), 764. Panama Climbing Rat (Tylomys panamensis), 765. Mira Climbing Rat (Tylomys mirae)

Subspecies and Distribution. T:m.miraeThomas,1899—WColombiaandNWEcuador. T. m. bogotensis Goodwin, 1955 — C Colombia.