Tylomys panamensis (Gray, 1873)

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

764.

Panama Climbing Rat

Tylomys panamensis

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

Other common names: Panamanian Climbing Rat

Taxonomy. Neomys panamensis Gray, 1873 , “ Panama.”

Tylomys panamensis is known from only two specimens collected in the 1850s. Monotypic.

Distribution. E Panama at an elevation of 600 m; known localities are now in Darién National Park.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 226 mm, tail 199 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Panama Climbing Rat is the size of the Brown Rat ( Rattus norvegicus ). Back is dark gray (blackish washed), with long hairs; sides of head and body are quite pale; throat, chest, lower body, and interior of legs are white; and legs are brown, with white hairs on nails. Tail is bicolored, naked, shiny, and flaky; two-thirds from base are dark and remaining one-third is white. Karyotype is 2n = 52; long pair is submetacentric, two pairs are small and submetacentric, and 22 pairs are medium and small acrocentric. X-chromosome is submetacentric, and Y-chromosome is subteocentric.

Habitat. Tropical wet forest and tropical rainforest, composed of Bauhinia spp. (Fabaceae) , Oenocarpus spp. and Attalea spp. (both Arecaceae ), Orchids ( Orchidaceae ), Bromeliads (Bromelaceae), ferns, other epiphytes of family Cyclanthaceae , and Anthuriums spp. ( Araceae ).

Food and Feeding. The Panama Climbing Rat probably feeds on fruits and shoots of plants.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Panama Climbing Rat is strictly nocturnal, with activity between 21:00 h and 06:00 h. It is most active around midnight and during rainy season in June-September.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Panama Climbing Rat is probably solitary. In Darien,it was reported moving at 17 cm/s in the jungle canopy.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Data on distribution, threats,status, ecological requirements, and taxonomic validity are needed to make an accurate conservation assessment.

Bibliography. Espinoza (2002), Goodwin (1955b), Handley (1966), Méndez-Carvajal et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (2005), Nowak (1999), Pathak et al. (1973), Reid (2009), 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)

Distribution. E Panama at an elevation of 600 m; known localities are now in Darién National Park.