Tylomys watsoni, 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

762.

Watson’s Climbing Rat

Tylomys watsoni

French: Tylomys de Watson / German: \Watson-Kletterratte / Spanish: Rata trepadora de Watson

Taxonomy. T ylomys watsoni Thomas, 1899 , “Bogava, Chiriqui, N.W. Panama, alt. 250 m. ” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Costa Rica and Panama, throughout the Caribbean and Pacific slopes and the Central Highlands.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 155-290 mm, tail 150-320 mm; weight 196— 252 g. Watson’s Climbing Rat is very similar to Peters’s Climbing Rat (7. nudicaudus), but measurements and shape of skulls differ along with those of the Mira Climbing Rat (7. mirae ). Pelage of Watson’s Climbing Rat is dense; dorsum ranges from gray to ocher, with sharp blend of coffee; and venter is white to cream. Legs are brown, with white fingers resembling carrying fingerless gloves. Tail is naked, scaly, and dark at base up to one-third of its length and white distally. Ears are black, large, and bare. Whiskers are long and thick. Skull is elongated, and cranial vault is flattened and depressed toward interorbital region; premaxila extends slightly beyond nose.

Habitat. Deciduous and evergreen tropical forests, mountain forest, secondary vegetation, caves, and rocky areas from sea level to elevations of ¢.2700 m.

Food and Feeding. Diet of Watson’s Climbing Rat is believed to be similar to that of Peters’s Climbing Rat that eats leaves, fruits, and seeds. Watson’s Climbing Rats have been caught in traps baited with mixture of oats and vanilla. In captivity, they eat fruit and oats and is fond of chocolate.

Breeding. Female Watson's Climbing Rat was caught with three embryos in February.

Activity patterns. In Costa Rica, Watson’s Climbing Rats are usually found on forest canopies and are often seen in roof beams of huts and houses, associated with abundant vegetation.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Watson's Climbing Rat has a large distribution and presumably stable overall population,is tolerant of habitat modification, and occurs in protected areas.

Bibliography. Espinoza (2002), Goodwin (1955b), Musser & Carleton (2005), Reid (2009), Thomas (1899c), 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)

Distribution. Costa Rica and Panama, throughout the Caribbean and Pacific slopes and the Central Highlands.