375.

White-tailed Wood Rat

Madromys blanfordi

French: Rat de Blanford / German: Blanford-Ratte / Spanish: Rata de bosque de cola blanca

Other common names: Blanford's Madromys, Blanford’s Rat

Taxonomy. Mus blanfordi Thomas, 1881,

“Kadapa, Madras,” southern India.

Previously placed in Mus and then Rattus, subsequently in Cremnomys, a treatment supported by chromosome data. More recently separated in monotypic Madromys, based on skull morpho-anatomical study. Placement in Millardiini seems most likely, but notyet confirmed by molecular study. Monotypic.

Distribution. India, SW Bangladesh, and E & S Sri Lanka.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 151-182 mm,tail 185-208 mm, ear 25-27 mm, hindfoot 32-37 mm; weight 98-110 g. The White-tailed Wood Ratis a large rodent characterized by a bicolored hairy tail that is dark proximally and ends with white and a small tuft distally. Dorsal pelage is reddish brown, ventral white. On the skull, the tympanic bullae arelarge and they represent more than 17% of the total skull length. Females bear three pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 36, FN = 36.

Habitat. Dry deciduous forest, rocky areas, scrub, and caves. Recent captures in south India show that the White-tailed Wood Rat may be locally abundant, and that it is found in dry thorn forest and deciduous forest but not in semi-evergreen forest.

Food and Feeding. Diet consists mainly of plant matter, and occasionally insects.

Breeding. Reproduction occurs from June to October. Littersize is 2-3.

Activity patterns. White-tailed Wood Rats are nocturnal and terrestrial; they dig burrows in soft soils.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Agrawal (2000), Corbet & Hill (1992), Denys et al. (2017), Ellerman (1961), Fabre et al. (2015), Misonne (1969), Musser & Carleton (2005), Venkataraman etal. (2005).