639.

Millard’s Rat

Dacnomys millardi

French: Rat de Millard / German: Millard-Ratte / Spanish: Rata de Millard

Other common names: Millard's Dacnomys

Taxonomy. Dacnomys millardi Thomas,

1916,

“

Gopaldhara

, 3,440’

[= 1049

m],”

near Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.

Despite revision indicating some variabil-ity, there is still only one species of Dacnomys, which is in its own Dacnomys division and could be close to Niviventer. S. J. Steppan and J. J. Schenk in 2017 confirmedits position within Rattini. It needs taxonomic revision and might be split into several species. Monotypic.

Distribution. E Nepal, NE India, S China (NW & S Yunnan), N Laos, and NW Vietnam.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 212-273 mm, tail 287-333 mm, ear 23-28 mm, hindfoot 47-56 mm; weight 300 g. Millard’s Ratis large, with short pelage ofgrayish brown grizzled hair on dorsum and brownish white hair on belly. Tail is 114-142% of headbody length and unicolored. Digits are white, and feet and hands are light brown on dorsal parts. Females have four pairs of mammae.

Habitat. Tropical and subtropical lowland and mountain rainforest, only primary habitats, at elevations of 1050-3000 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Millard’s Rat is nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Millard’s Rat has never been recorded from disturbed habitats, and deforestation is likely a significant threat.

Bibliography. Agrawal (2000), Lunde, Musser & Molur (2008), Molur et al. (2005), Musser (1981a), Musser & Carleton (2005), Smith & Yan Xie (2008), Steppan & Schenk (2017).

© J.T. Marshall,