Melomys capensis Tate 1951

277.

Cape York Mosaic-tailed Rat

Melomys capensis

French: Mélomys de Cape York / German: Kap-York-Mosaikschwanzratte / Spanish: Rata de cola moteada de York

Other common names: Cape York Melomys

Taxonomy. Melomys cervinipes capensis Tate, 1951,

“upper Nesbit River, Rocky Scrub (east of Coen) [Queensland, Australia], 1500 feet [= 457 m].”

Melomys capensis, because it isvery similar to M. cervinipes, was formerly considered a subspecies of latter, but genetic studies by P. R. Baverstock and colleagues in 1980 justified its elevation to species rank. J. I. Menzies in 1996 included it in the M. cer vinipes division (cervinipes, capensis, burtoni, [rigicola, lutillus). 1. M. Bryant and coworkers in 2011 confirmed that M. capensis is a valid species and thatits sisteris M. rubicola rather than M. cervinipes; a similar result was obtained also by P. H. Fabre’s team in 2017. Monotypic.

Distribution. Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia, including some

offshore islands.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 1 19-162 mm, tail 129-172, ear 16 mm, hindfeet 30-5 mm; weight 45-116 g. This relatively small Melomys is characterized by dull rufous-

brown dorsal pelage and a pure white ventral one; it has broad feet. Tail is longer (129%) than head-body length.

Habitat. Forest—grassland ecotone and rainforest areas.

Food and Feeding. Cape York Mosaic-tailed Rats feed on fallen seeds.

Breeding. Reproduction may occur throughout year, and females usually give birth to two young.

Activity patterns. The Cape York Mosaic-tailed Rat is a nocturnal and scansorial species, resting in tree hollows during day.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Cape York Mosaic-tailed Rat is common in suitable habitat. Such habitat, however, is not particularly frequent within its range.

Bibliography. Baverstock et al. (1980), Bryant et al. (2011), Fabre, Fitriana et al. (2017), Leung (2008), Menzies (1996).