Uromys imperator (Thomas, 1888)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Muridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 536-884 : 716-717

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6887260

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6827226

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E275-3452-FFE2-E49E-24AA747F814D

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Uromys imperator
status

 

321. View Plate 43: Muridae

Emperor Giant Rat

Uromys imperator View in CoL

French: Uromys empereur / German: Kaiserriesenratte / Spanish: Rata gigante emperador

Other common names: Emperor Rat, Emperor Uromys

Taxonomy. Mus imperator Thomas, 1888 ,

“Aola, Guadalcanar [= Guadalcanal Island] ... Solomon Islands. ”

Within Uromys , U. imperator is included in subgenus Cyromys along with the other two Guadalcanal species, namely U. porculus and U. rex . Monotypic.

Distribution. Guadalcanal I, Solomon Is. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 340-350 mm, tail 250-258 mm, ear 19-20 mm, hindfoot 64-66 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Emperor Giant Ratis a very large species of Uromys similar to the King Giant Rat ( U. rex ), from which it is distinguished by its shorter tail and its larger size. Pelage is short and woolly to the touch but looks wiry. Dorsal pelage is dark grizzled ash gray, and ventral pelage is white. Feet are broad and naked. Ears are short and silvery pink; vibrissae are long, and black or white. Tail is relatively long (73% of head-body length) and blackish brown. Skull is similarto that of the King Giant Rat, but not so deep. There are two pairs of mammae, both inguinal.

Habitat. Found near the coast in the dry northern lowlands of the island, but it has been suggested that it has been restricted to mossy montane forests.

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 (Possibly Extinct) on The [UCN Red List. The Emperor Giant Rat is known only from the three original specimens collected between 1886 and 1888, and is possibly extinct. Another specimen exists just as a skin and may represent this species, but it may also represent the King Giant Rat. Although the exact reason for the Emperor Giant Rat’s decline and pos- sible extinction is unknown, overhunting and loss of suitable habitat, or competition, predation, and disease transmission from introduced species may have played varying roles in it. Terrestrial habits may have been the downfall of the species, in contrast to the more recently seen King Giant Rat. Further surveys are needed in order to confirm its continued existence on the island.

Bibliography. Bryant et al. (2011), Flannery (1995a), Groves & Flannery (1994), Helgen, Leary & Wright (2016a), Lavery (2014), Musser & Carleton (2005), Steppan & Schenk (2017).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Muridae

Genus

Uromys

Loc

Uromys imperator

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr 2017
2017
Loc

Mus imperator

Thomas 1888
1888
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