Rattus mindorensis

700.

Mindoro Mountain Rat

Rattus mindorensis

French: Rat de Mindoro / German: Schwarze Mindoro-Ratte / Spanish: Rata de montana de Mindoro

Other common names: Mindoro Black Rat, Mindoro Soft-furred Rat

Taxonomy. Mus mindorensis Thomas, 1898,

Mount Dulangan, 5000 ft (= 1524 m), Mindoro Island, Philippines.

Rattus mindorensis is in the R. rattus species group; it is morphologically similar to R. tiomanicus but not closely related to other Philippine Rattus species. It could be an insular form of R. tiomanicus, although this requires more research. Monotypic.

Distribution. Mindoro I, Philippines.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 190 mm,tail 163 mm, hindfoot 32-5 mm (from holotype). No specific data are available for body weight. The Mindoro Mountain Rat is medium-sized and very similar to the Malaysian Field Rat (R. tiomanicus). Pelage is soft, dense, and short. Dorsum is dark or blackish brown, highlighted with chestnut hues and covered with short black guard hairs. Venter is dark gray, washed with pale buff, although some individuals have dark slate-gray undersides; venter is not demarcated sharply from dorsum. Feet are black dorsally, with slightly lighter digits. Ears are short and covered with minute hairs, with patch of darker hairs around them; vibrissae are long. Tail is ¢.86% of head-body length, almost naked, and monocolored black. Skull is very similar to that of the Malaysian Field Rat. There are five pairs of mammae: one pectoral, one post-axillary, one abdominal, and two inguinal.

Habitat. Montane forests at elevations of 1000-1500 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 Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Mindoro Mountain Rat is apparently not uncommon, but it might be threatened by deforestation dueto illegal logging on Mindoro, which generally occurs in lowlands outside of its preferred habitat. It is found in Mount Iglit National Park. Research is needed to understand its natural history, taxonomy, and conservation threats.

Bibliography. Gonzalez & Heaney (2008), Heaney et al. (1998), Musser & Califia (1982), Musser & Carleton (2005), Musser & Heaney (1992), Thomas (1898b).