Madromys blanfordi (Thomas, 1881)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6887260 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6868584 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E275-34AE-FF1F-E47B-2A457F138878 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Madromys blanfordi |
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White-tailed Wood Rat
Madromys blanfordi View in CoL
French: Rat de Blanford / German: Blanford-Ratte / Spanish: Rata de bosque de cola blanca
Other common names: Blanford's Madromys, Blanford’s Rat
Taxonomy. Mus blanfordi Thomas, 1881 ,
“Kadapa, Madras,” southern India.
Previously placed in Mus and then Rattus , subsequently in Cremnomys , a treatment supported by chromosome data. More recently separated in monotypic Madromys , based on skull morpho-anatomical study. Placement in Millardiini seems most likely, but notyet confirmed by molecular study. Monotypic.
Distribution. India, SW Bangladesh, and E & S Sri Lanka. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 151-182 mm,tail 185-208 mm, ear 25-27 mm, hindfoot 32-37 mm; weight 98-110 g. The White-tailed Wood Ratis a large rodent characterized by a bicolored hairy tail that is dark proximally and ends with white and a small tuft distally. Dorsal pelage is reddish brown, ventral white. On the skull, the tympanic bullae arelarge and they represent more than 17% of the total skull length. Females bear three pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 36, FN = 36.
Habitat. Dry deciduous forest, rocky areas, scrub, and caves. Recent captures in south India show that the White-tailed Wood Rat may be locally abundant, and that it is found in dry thorn forest and deciduous forest but not in semi-evergreen forest.
Food and Feeding. Diet consists mainly of plant matter, and occasionally insects.
Breeding. Reproduction occurs from June to October. Littersize is 2-3.
Activity patterns. White-tailed Wood Rats are nocturnal and terrestrial; they dig burrows in soft soils.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography. Agrawal (2000), Corbet & Hill (1992), Denys et al. (2017), Ellerman (1961), Fabre et al. (2015), Misonne (1969), Musser & Carleton (2005), Venkataraman etal. (2005).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
