486.

Least Groove-toothed Swamp Rat

Pelomys minor

French: Pélomys nain / German: Kleine Furchenzahn-Bachratte / Spanish: Rata de ciénaga de dientes estriados minima

Other common names: Least Pelomys

Taxonomy. Pelomys minor Cabrera & Ruxton, 1926,

Kananga (= Luluabourg), KasaiOccidental, DR Congo.

Monotypic.

Distribution. S DR Congo and extending into neighboring NE Angola, N Zambia, and W Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 101-161 mm, tail 100-131 mm, ear 13-16 mm, hindfoot 21-27 mm; weight 42-56 g. A small rodent with grooved upper incisors, the Least Groove-toothed Swamp Rat is smallest species in the genus. Fur is coarse, glossy, golden yellow to rusty brown above and on flanks, well delineated from dull white, buff, or yellowish belly. Distinct, thin black mid-dorsal stripe extends from between ears to base of tail (sometimes indistinct). Nose, base of ears, and around eyes rusty brown. Ears are covered with short rufous hairs. Forefeet have first digit very reduced and fifth digit reduced, with a claw. Tail is long (c.93-100% or more of head— body length), bicolored, blackish above and gray below.

Habitat. Swamps.

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 Least Concern on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Sanborn (1952b).