Rhipidomys wetzeli, Gardner, 1989

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 487

606.

Wetzel’s Climbing Rat

Rhipidomys wetzeli

French: Rhipidomys de Wetzel / German: \Wetzel-Neuweltklettermaus / Spanish: Rata trepadora de Wetzel

Other common names: \Wetzel's Climbing Mouse, Wetzel's Rhipidomys

Taxonomy. Rhipidomys wetzeli Gardner, 1990 , Cerro de la Neblina, 1800 m, Amazonas, Venezuela.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. S Venezuela (states of Amazonas and Bolivar) and extreme W Guyana (Mt Roraima); it may occur in N Brazil.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 63-103 mm, tail 82-130 mm, ear 15-19 mm, hindfoot 21-25 mm; weight 20-39 g. Wetzel’s Climbing Rat is very small, characterized by long, soft fur, with bright orange dorsum, finely streaked with black. Sides are paler than dorsum, and venter has cream or pale orange hair tips over dark gray bases. Tail is uniformly medium to dark brown, long (130-150% of head-body length), inconspicuously covered with short hair proximally but terminating in long pencil extending ¢.20 mm from terminal caudal vertebra. Ears are conspicuously darker than back. Hindfeet are short, with dark patch over metatarsal region that may be restricted to small spot at bases of toes.

Habitat. Cloud forests at elevations of 1032-1850 m. Wetzel’s Climbing Rats occur on the tepui table mountains of the Guiana Shield.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. The holotype of Wetzel’s Climbing Rat was a lactating female trapped in December; her uterus had two embryonic scars.

Activity patterns. Wetzel’s Climbing Rat is mostly captured on logs above the ground.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Aguilera et al. (2016), Gardner (1990), Handley (1976), Tribe (1996, 2015), Voss et al. (2001).

Figures

592. Merida Montane Mouse (Aepeomys lugens), 593. Reig’s Montane Mouse (Aepeomys reig), 594. Smoky Forest Mouse (Chilomys fumeus), 595. Colombian Forest Mouse (Chilomys instans), 596. Long-tongued Arboreal Mouse (Rhagomys longilingua), 597. Brazilian Arboreal Mouse (Rhagomys rufescens), 598. Broad-footed Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys latimanus), 599. Lesser Colombian Climbing Rat (Rhaprdomys caucensis), 600. Greater Colombian Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys similis), 601. Tawny-bellied Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys fulviventer), 602. Venezuelan Climbing Rat (Rhpidomys venezuelae), 603. Coues’s Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys couesi), 604. Charming Climbing Rat (Rhpidomys venustus), 605. Turimiquire Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys tenuicauda), 606. Wetzel’s Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys wetzeli), 607. White-footed Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys leucodactylus), 608. Albuja’s Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys albujar), 609. Splendid Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys nitela), 610. McConnell’s Tepui Climbing Rat (Rhupndomys macconnells), 611. Snethlage’s Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys emiliae), 612. Cariri Climbing Rat (Rhipudomys cariri), 613. Ipuca Climbing Rat (RhAipidomys ipukensis), 614. Lesser Peruvian Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys modicus), 615. Gardner’s Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys gardneri), 616. Yellow-bellied Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys ochrogaster), 617. Cerrado Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys macrurus), 618. Long-tailed Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys mastacalis), 619. Tribe’s Climbing Rat (RhAipidomys tribei), 620. Sky Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys itoan), 621. Southern Climbing Rat (Rhipidomys austrinus)

Distribution. S Venezuela (states of Amazonas and Bolivar) and extreme W Guyana (Mt Roraima); it may occur in N Brazil.