619.

Delicate Soft-furred Mouse

Praomys delectorum

French: Praomys délicat / German: Zierliche Weichhaarratte / Spanish: Raton de pelaje suave delicado

Other common names: Delectable Soft-furred Mouse, Delicate Praomys, East African Praomys

Taxonomy. Epimys delectorum Thomas, 1910,

“Mlanji [= Mulanje] Plateau, S. Nyasa [= Malawi]. Alt. 5500’ [= 1676 m].”

Praomys delectorum is the only species in the P. delectorum species group. Three cryptic species were proposed based on morphological grounds, but they could not be corroborated with molecular data. Monotypic.

Distribution. Eastern Arc Mts and adjacent highlands in Kenya and Tanzania extending S to Malawi and N Mozambique.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 90-120 mm, tail 110-142 mm, ear 18-25 mm, hindfoot 21-26 mm; weight 20-38 g. Fur of the Delicate Soft-furred Mouse is dark brown above, paler on flanks, and whitish gray on belly, chin, and throat. Tail is long (c.125% of head-body length), with fine dark scales and short dark bristles. Head is narrow, with pointed nose, long black vibrissae, and large eyes. Ears are elongated, with rounded tips, dark brown, and highly mobile, usually held upward and forward from head. Hindfeet and forefeet are short and slender, with short sparse white hair. Hindfeet have five digits; first digit is short. Forefeet have four digits; first digit is vestigial. Females have four pairs of nipples. Diploid number is 2n = 48.

Habitat. Montane and riverine forests and forest edges typically at elevations of 1000 2400 m where rainfall exceeds 2000 mm/year.

Food and Feeding. The Delicate Soft-furred Mouse is omnivorous. Stomachs from Malawi contained vegetative matter and insects.

Breeding. Pregnant Delicate Soft-furred Mice have been recorded in late dry and wet seasons in Malawi. Litters have 2-6 young.

Activity patterns. The Delicate Soft-furred Mouse is nocturnal, terrestrial, and scansorial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Delicate Soft-furred Mice live in burrows among tree roots and under logs. Individuals rarely survive longer than six months.

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

Bibliography. Bryja, Mikula, Patzenhauerové et al. (2014), Carleton & Stanley (2012), Hanney (1965), Happold (2013a), Happold & Happold (1989a, 1989b, 1992), Monadjem et al. (2015).