618.

De Graaff’s Soft-furred Mouse

Praomys degraaffi

French: Praomys de De Graaff / German: De-Graaf-Weichhaarratte / Spanish: Ratén de pelaje suave de De Graaff

Other common names: De Graaff's Praomys

Taxonomy. Praomys degraaffi Van de Straeten & Kerbis Peterhans, 1999,

Abris Nyamugari, 2200 m, Burundi.

Praomys degraaffiis in the P.jacksoni species group and can be diagnosed from P. jacksoni based on pelage color, number of nipples, and chromosomal and molecular characteristics. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to the Albertine Rift from SW Uganda to SW Burundi.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 92-124 mm, tail 115-151 mm, ear 17-22 mm, hindfoot 24-29 mm; weight 28-64 g. Fur of De Graaff’s Soft-furred Mouse is dark gray or sooty-black overall. Tail is long (c.129% of head-body length). Hindfeet have small accessory plantar pads, along with the six large plantar pads typical of murids. Females have four pairs of nipples. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 26 and FN = 28.

Habitat. Montane bamboo forests and open or closed primary and secondary forests, dominated by trees such as Hagenia (Rosaceae), Myrianthus (Urticaceae), and Entandrophragma (Meliaceae), at elevations above 1800 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Pregnant females recorded in February, April, and August. Based on four pregnant De Graaff’s Soft-furred Mice,litters have 2—4 young.

Activity patterns. De Graaff’s Soft-furred Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Van der Straeten & Kerbis Peterhans (1999).