Melanomys zunigae (Sanborn, 1949)

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 : 458

507.

Zuniga’s Dark Rice Rat

Melanomys zunigae

French: Mélanomys de Zuniga / German: Zuniga-Dunkelreisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera de Zuniga

Other common names: Zuniga’s Melanomys

Taxonomy. Oryzomys (Melanomys) zunigae Sanborn, 1949 , Lomas de Atocongo, Lima Department, Peru.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Cerro San Jeronimo and Lomas de Atocongo, WC Peru.

Descriptive notes. Head-body not given, tail 81-105 mm, hindfoot 23-28 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. See general characters of the genus under the Black-and-Yellow Rice Rat ( M. chrysomelas ) account. Dorsum of Zuniga’s Dark Rice Rat is dark brown, becoming paler on sides; underparts are paler brown, mixed with grayish black but with pale tips; forefeet and hindfeet are brown rather than black. Tail is shorter than head-body length and bicolored, blackish brown above and slightly paler below. Incisive foramina are long and extended posteriorly to between first molars.

Habitat. Coastal Lomas ecosystem (desert or dryland habitat) with mesic vegetation along streams and on hilltops, as a product of sporadic moisture from fog in winter, at elevations of 600-800 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red Lust. Zuniga’s Dark Rice Rat has not been recorded since 1949 despite intensive searches. The population could have suffered a decline greater than 80% (if it is still extant), and collection localities continue to experience severe decline in extent and quality of habitat.

Bibliography. Eisenberg & Redford (1999), Mena et al. (2007), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pacheco (2002), Pacheco et al. (2009), Sanborn (1949), Weksler & Léss (2015), Zeballos & Vivar (2008a), Zuniga (1942).

Figures

487. Common Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys palustris), 488. Texas Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys texensus), 489. Coues’s Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys couesi), 490. White-bellied Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys albiventer), 491. Nicaraguan Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys dimidiatus), 492. Gorgas’s Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys gorgasi), 493. Santiago Galapagos Mouse (Nesoryzomys swarthi), 494. Small Fernandina Galapagos Mouse (Nesoryzomys fernandinae), 495. Large Fernandina Galapagos Mouse (Nesoryzomys narboroughi), 496. Galapagos Rice Rat (Aegialomys galapagoensis), 497. Yellowish Rice Rat (Aegialomys xanthaeolus), 498. Baron's Rice Rat (Aegialomys baroni), 499. Ica Rice Rat (Aegialomys ica), 500. Alfaro’s Water Rat (Sigmodontomys alfari), 501. Harris's Rice Water Rat (Tanyuromys aphrastus), 502. Black-and-Yellow Rice Rat (Melanomys chrysomelas), 503. Cinnamon-rufous Rice Rat (Melanomys idoneus), 504. Colombian Rice Rat (Melanomys columbianus), 505. Dusky Rice Rat (Melanomys caliginosus), 506. Robust Dark Rice Rat (Melanomys robustulus), 507. Zuniga’s Dark Rice Rat (Melanomys zunigae), 508. Intermediate Lesser Grass Mouse (Microakodontomys transitorius), 509. Lagoa Santa Pink-lipped Mouse (Bibimys labiosus), 510. Chacoan Pink-lipped Mouse (Bibimys chacoensis), 511. Torres’s Pink-lipped Mouse (Bibimys torresi), 512. Brazilian Swamp Rat (Scapteromys meridionalis), 513. Argentinean Swamp Rat (Scapteromys aquaticus), 514. Uruguay Swamp Rat (Scapteromys tumidus), 515. Cerrado Giant Rat (Gyldenstolpia planaltensis), 516. Fossorial Giant Rat (Gyldenstolpia fronto), 517. Woolly Giant Rat (Kunsia tomentosus), 518. Andean Rat (Lenoxus apicalis), 519. Atlantic Forest Burrowing Mouse (Blarinomys breviceps), 520. Gray-bellied Brucie (Brucepattersonius griserufescens), 521. Short-tailed Brucie (Brucepattersonius soricinus), 522. Ihering’s Brucie (Brucepattersonius theringi)

Distribution. Cerro San Jeronimo and Lomas de Atocongo, WC Peru.