Melanomys columbianus (J. A. Allen, 1899)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6707142 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6727354 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F06D13-FF1C-20D5-0D87-1FCC0164FC3A |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Melanomys columbianus |
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504. View Plate 24: Cricetidae
Colombian Rice Rat
French: Mélanomys de Colombie / German: Kolumbien-Dunkelreisratte / Spanish: Rata arrocera de Colombia
Other common names: Colombian Melanomys
Taxonomy. Akodon columbianus J. A. Allen, 1899 , Manzanares, 3000 ft, Santa Marta, Colombia.
Melanomys columbianusis resurrected from M. caliginosus based on molecular grounds, but taxonomy remains uncertain. Monotypic.
Distribution. N Colombia (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta) and extreme NW Venezuela. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head—body 125-145 mm,tail 80-100 mm, ear 14-18 mm, hindfoot 25-28 mm; weight 43-48 g. Holotype measurements: head—body 128 mm, tail 102 mm, hindfoot 27 mm. See general characters of the genus under the Black-and-Yellow Rice Rat ( M. chrysomelas ) account. Upperparts of the Colombian Rice Rat are dark brown, minutely grizzled with ocherous and black; mid-dorsal band is much darker than sides; underparts are tawny, through which plumbeous underfur is more or less visible; ears are black; feet and tail are brownish black; tail is practically naked; and short hairs between tail scales do not conceal annulations, as in all species of Melanomys .
Habitat. Montane forests restricted to “semi-insular” Santa Marta region at elevations of 1000-2500 m.
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 as a separate species from the Dusky Rice Rat ( M. caliginosus ), which is classified as Least Concern.
Bibliography. Allen (1899b, 1913b), Hanson & Bradley (2008), Weksler & Loss (2015).
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.
