263.

Pavel’s Seram Mosaic-tailed Rat

Melomys paveli

French: Mélomys de Pavel / German: Pavel-Seram-Mosaikschwanzratte / Spanish: Rata de cola moteada de Pavel

Other common names: Pavel’s Seram Melomys

Taxonomy. Melomys rufescens paveli K. M. Helgen, 2003,

Piliana, 400 m, coast of south Pulau Seram, Indonesia. Melomys paveli was originally described as a subspecies of M. rufescens, but G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005 raised it to species rank. It is known only from the holotype. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality on S coast of Seram I, Indonesia. Descriptive notes. Head-body 123 mm, tail 128 mm, ear 14-6 mm, hindfoot 26-2 mm; weight 65 g (all mensural data are from holotype). Pavel’s Seram Mosaic-tailed Rat is very small-bodied, with dorsal pelage soft and brightly colored rufescent reddish brown, hairs with graybases, and venter contrastingly pure white; tail is slightly longer than head-body length, all black in color, tail scales raised, one hair per scale, scale hairs very short. Upper surfaces of feet are dark gray; hindfeet broad, with first digit long. Cranium is relatively narrow, with nasal profile flat; teeth very small. Single known specimen (the holotype), a pregnant female, has four mammae.

Habitat. Recorded in a moderately disturbed low-elevation rainforest in precipitous limestone country.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List because it is known only from the holotype,there is no information on its population status, and its distributional limits and habitat requirements are poorly known. The type locality is in Manusela National Park.

Bibliography. Helgen (2003), Musser & Carleton (2005).