38.

Kivu Giant Pouched Rat

Cricetomys kivuensis

French: Cricétome du Kivu / German: Kivu-Riesenhamsterratte / Spanish: Rata de abazones gigante de Kivu

Taxonomy. Cricetomys kivuensis Lonnberg, 1917,

Masisi, DR Congo.

The distinctiveness of this species has recently been questioned on molecular and morphological grounds, and may therefore not represent a distinct species. Further studies are required to resolve the taxonomy of this genus. Monotypic.

Distribution. Restricted to the Albertine Rift in E DR Congo, SW Uganda, W Rwanda, and N Burundi.

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.320 mm, tail ¢.340 mm, ear c.45 mm, hindfoot c.69 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Kivu Giant Pouched Rat is a very large muroid rat, with well-developed cheek pouches. Fur is relatively long and soft, grayish dorsally shading to off-white ventrally. Snout is long and pointed. There are no dark rings around eyes as are typical in other species of Cricetomys. Ears are relatively long. Tail is slightly longer than head-body length, with terminal one-half conspicuously white compared with dark proximal one-half. Limbsare relatively short, with four digits on forefeet and five digits on hindfeet.

Habitat. Montane forest.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Other species of Cricetomys are hunted extensively for food. If the Kivu Giant Pouched Rat is also hunted in its limited distribution, its conservation status could be negatively affected.

Bibliography. Fa & Purvis (1997), Malcolm & Ray (2000), Monadjem et al. (2015), Olayemi et al. (2012), Ray & Duplantier (2013), Rosevear (1969).