576.

Rupp’s Ethiopian Rat

Stenocephalemys ruppi

French: Rat de Rupp / German: Rupp-Hochlandratte / Spanish: Rata de Etiopia de Rupp

Other common names: Rupp’s Mouse, Rupp’s Stenocephalemys

Taxonomy. Praomys ruppi Van der Straeten & Dieterlen, 1983,

Bonke, 2800-3200 m, north of Bulta, Gemu-Gofa, Ethiopia. This taxon was previously placed in the genus Praomys, but moved to Stenocephalemys based on morphological grounds. Monotypic.

Distribution. Gughe Mts, W of Rift Valley, Ethiopia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 124- — 138 mm, tail 143-179 mm, ear 23-26 mm, hindfoot 30-33 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Fur of Rupp’s Ethiopian Ratis sandy-brown above and grayish white below; upper and lower surfaces are delineated by yellow line. Tail is very long (c.122% of head-body length), gray above, pale below, and mostly naked. Ears are large, gray, and lightly furred. Hindfeet and forefeet are white. Females have five pairs of nipples. Habitat. Montane forest and scrub at elevations of 2700-3200 m. Food and Feeding. No information. Breeding. No information. Activity patterns. Rupp’s Ethiopian Ratis presumably nocturnal and terrestrial. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information. Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Van der Straeten & Dieterlen (1983), Yalden & Largen (1992).