814.

Hume’s Hadromys

Hadromys humei

French: Rat de Hume / German: Manipur-Starkratte / Spanish: Rata de Hume

Other common names: Hume's Rat, Manipur Bush Rat

Taxonomy. Mus hume: Thomas, 1886,

Moirang, Manipur,India.

G. B. Corbet and J. E. Hill in 1992 found H. humei humei distinct from H. h. yunnanensis . At present, distribution of H. humeiis relictual, but fossil evidence showed that the genus was present over all the IndoMalayan region during the Pleistocene. H. humei was reviewed by G. G. Musser in 1987. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from three locations in Assam and Manipur, NE India.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 98-140 mm, tail 120-138 mm, ear 15-22 mm, hindfoot 23-28 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Hume’s Hadromys is the smallest species of Hadromys . It is very similar in external appearance to the Indian Bush Rat (Golundaellioti). Tail is slightly longer than head-body length, hindfeet are long, and pelage is dense. Tail is bicolored, brown above and white buff below, and small hairs do not mask scales. Dorsum is dark grayish brown, sprinkled with black and white or yellow; venter is grayish white, tinged with pale or rich buff. Ears are large and rounded. Skull is very robust. Teeth are broad and have well-aligned transverse cusps with high crowns, suggesting a vegetarian diet. Females have four pairs of mammae.

Habitat. Oak parkland and oak scrub with scattered oak trees on dry rockyhillsides, tall grass, scarce shrubs, and no epiphytes, at elevations of 900-1300 m.

Food and Feeding. Hume’s Hadromys eats tender shoots, grasses, and leaves.

Breeding. Reproduction of Hume’s Hadromys has been observed in September—October.

Activity patterns. Hume’s Hadromys is nocturnal and terrestrial, and makes burrows.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Hume's Hadromys is known from only a very small geographical area and is adversely affected by habitat fragmentation, hunting, and fire.

Bibliography. Agrawal (2000), Corbet & Hill (1992), Musser (1987b), Roonwal (1949).