689.

Marmoset Xanthurus Rat

Rattus marmosurus

French: Rat a queue de singe / German: Opossum-Gelbschwanzratte / Spanish: Rata de cola dorada titi

Other common names: Marmoset Rat, Opossum Rat, Opossum Xanthurus Rat

Taxonomy. Rattus marmosurus Thomas, 1921,

“Mt. Masarang [= Gunung Masarang], Minahassa, 2000’ [= 610 m],” north-eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia .

Rattus marmosurus is in the R. xanthurus species group. The taxon facetus is almost certainly a distinct species, but until formal revision of the R. xanthurus species group 1s published, it isconsidered a subspecies of R. marmosurus . Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

R.m.marmosurusThomas,1921—NEpeninsulaofSulawesi .

R. m. facetus G. S. Miller & Hollister, 1921 — S portion of the NE peninsula and C Sulawesi.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 135-230 mm, tail 175-263 mm, ear 21 mm, hindfoot 33-38-5 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Marmoset Xanthurus Rat is medium to large, with long (longer on rump) and relatively soft pelage and long black guard hairs, extending onto base of tail. Dorsum is cinnamon brown, and hairs are ringed with black or rufous. Venter is grayish white, with white or slaty bases to hairs. Feet are brown dorsally and whiter on digits. Tail is ¢.115-140% of head-body length, almost naked, blackish for basal one-third, and white for the rest. Subspecies facetus is smaller than nominate marmosurus . Skull is lightly built and has large palatal foramen (facetus has smaller auditory bullae than marmosurus). There are two pairs of mammae: two pectoral and two inguinally. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 42, FN = 60 (for facetus).

Habitat. Most forest habitats and plantations at most elevations. The Marmoset Xanthurus Rat is not found in other disturbed areas.

Food and Feeding. Marmoset Xanthurus Rats are frugivorous and eat figs and other fruits.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Marmoset Xanthurus Rat is terrestrial and arboreal, commonly caught in strangler figs.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Marmoset Xanthurus Rat has a wide distribution,is found in multiple protected areas (including Morowali, Bongani Nani Wartabone, and Lore Lindu national parks), and is considered relatively common, although its population is predicted to be decreasing. Major threats are habitat degradation from deforestation (especially in lowlands) and possibly bushmeat trade and subsistence hunting.

Bibliography. Aplin (2016i), Dewi & Purwaningsih (2013), Duncan (1976), Durden etal. (2008), Maryanto & Yani (2003), Musser(1982a, 2014), Musser & Carleton (2005), Musser & Holden (1991), Pageset al. (2010), Steppan & Schenk (2017), Tate (1936).