372. Cutch Rat Cremnomys cutchicus

French: Rat du Cutch / German: Kutch-Indienfelsratte / Spanish: Rata de Kutch Other common names: Cutch Cremnomys, Cutch Rock Rat

Taxonomy. Cremnomys culchicus Wroughton, 1912,

Dhonsa, Kutch, Gujarat, India.

Cremnomys belongs in a tribe with Diomys, Madromys, and Millardia, as confirmed by several studies. Infraspecific differences were revised in 2000 by V. C. Agrawal, who considered previously recognized races insufficiently separable from cuitchicus. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to India, where it is widely distributed in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 104-149 mm,tail 120-174 mm, hindfoot 23-29 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Cutch Rat is a small to medium-sized and soft-furred species with atail longer (100-146%) than head-body length. Tail is more orless bicolored. Dorsal pelage brown gray, ventral white or pale gray. Fifth toe of hindfoot longer than hallux. Six plantar pads present. Tympanic bullae are small (less than 15% of the total length of the skull). Females bear three pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complementis 2n = 36, FN = 36.

Habitat. Rocky hills with trees or scrubs up to elevations of 1500 m.

Food and Feeding. Cutch Rats are mainly herbivorous.

Breeding. In Rajasthan, reproduction occurs from February to September. Litter size is 3-10 (average 4-6).

Activity patterns. Cutch Rats are probably terrestrial and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Agrawal (2000), Denys et al. (2017), Fabre et al. (2012), Lecompte et al. (2008), Misonne (1969), Musser & Carleton (2005).