614.

Misonne’s Soft-furred Mouse

Praomys misonnei

French: Praomys de Misonne / German: Misonne-Weichhaarratte / Spanish: Ratén de pelaje suave de Misonne

Other common names: Misonne's Praomys

Taxonomy. Praomys misonnei Van der Straeten & Dieterlen, 1987,

Irangi, Kivu region, DR Congo.

Praomys misonnei is in the P. tullbergi species group and distinguished based on molecular and subtle morphometric grounds. It previously was grouped with P. tullbergi but shown to be distinct based on molecular and morphological grounds. Monotypic.

Distribution. Widespread in tropical Africa from Ghana (Volta River) S to Gabon and E to SW Kenya (Kakamega Forest).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 89-123 mm, tail 113-163 mm, ear 16-21 mm, hindfoot 21-26 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Fur of Misonne’s Soft-furred Mouse is dark gray (younger) to rufous (older) above and whitish gray below. Tail is very long (c.123% of head-body length), almost naked, and dark gray above and below. Hindfeet and forefeet are whitish. Females have three pairs of nipples.

Habitat. [Lowland and submontane forests.

Food and Feeding. In Gabon and Central African Republic, diet included insects (mostly ants and termites in Gabon), other invertebrates, fruit pulp, and many species of seeds.

Breeding. Breeding occurs year-round, with distinct seasonal peak in wet season in eastern DR Congo and two peaks recorded in Nigeria at the end of dry seasonand end of the little dry season. Gestation lasts 23-24 days in Nigeria. Litters had 1-6 young in captivity and 2-6 young in the wild in Nigeria.

Activity patterns. Misonne’s Soft-furred Mouse is nocturnal, terrestrial, and semi-arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In Nigeria, males and females have similar-sized and overlapping home ranges of 0-11-0-39 ha. Individuals of both sexes nest communally and behave amicably toward each another.

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

Bibliography. Dieterlen (1985a), Duplantier (1982), Genest-Villard (1980), Happold (1977 1978, 1987, 2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Van der Straeten & Dieterlen (1987).