Rhynchomys soricoides, Thomas, 1895

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 : 675

publication ID

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

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6868344

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E275-346D-FFDC-E461-2F2B707A8A12

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Rhynchomys soricoides
status

 

216. View Plate 40: Muridae

Mount Data Shrew Rat

Rhynchomys soricoides View in CoL

French: Rhynchomys du Data / German: Mount-Data-Nasenratte / Spanish: Rata musarana de Data

Other common names: Cordillera Shrew Rat, Northern Luzon Rhynchomys, Northern Luzon Shrew-rat

Taxonomy. Rhynchomys soricoides Thomas, 1895 View in CoL ,

Mount Data Plateau, Mountain Province, Luzon Island, Philippines.

Rhynchomys soricoides was revised on the occasion of new species discoveries by G. G. Musser and P. W. Freeman in 1981 and by D. S. Balete and colleagues in 2007 and 2012. A morphometric study and a molecular analysis supported its validity. Balete and coworkers in 2012, however, highlighted the probable existence of an as yet undescribed species of the genus defined molecularly in a clade including R. soricoides (sensu lato) and R. tapulao . Monotypic.

Distribution. Cordillera Central of N Luzon I, Philippines. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head—body 178-196 mm, tail 132-162 mm, ear 23-25 mm, hindfoot 39-42 mm; weight 133-225 g. The Mount Data Shrew Rat displays the same morphological characteristicsas its congeners (slender head, long snout, small mouth with tiny incisors, small eyes, long vibrissae). The soft and dense fur is blackish brown dorsally and pale silvery gray ventrally; some individuals may display patches of pure white hairs on abdomen. Tail is longer than head-body and is unicolored, but dark dorsally. Hindfeet are long and narrow. The skull has an elongated narrow mandible, and there are only two upper and lower molars.

Habitat. Montane and mossy forest at 1600-2695 m elevation.

Food and Feeding. Mount Data Shrew Rats feed exclusively on earthworms and soil invertebrates, and seem not to eat plant material.

Breeding. Females have between one andtwo embryos (average 1-5).

Activity patterns. Mount Data Shrew Rats are active both at day and by night, and hunt within cover on pathways among vegetation.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Various threats such as habitat disturbance and deforestation have adverse effects on Mount Data Shrew Rats.

Bibliography. Balete, Rickart, Heaney et al. (2012), Balete, Rickart, Rosell-Ambal et al. (2007), Heaney, Balete & Rickart (2016), Musser & Freeman (1981).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Muridae

Genus

Rhynchomys

Loc

Rhynchomys soricoides

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

Rhynchomys soricoides

Thomas 1895
1895
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