678.

Aceh Rat

Rattus blangorum

French: Rat de Blangnanga / German: Aceh-Ratte / Spanish: Rata de Aceh

Taxonomy. Rattus blangorum G. S. Miller, 1942,

near Blangnanga Base Camp, 3600

feet (= 1097 m), Aceh foothills of Gunung Leuser, northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

Phylogenetic position of R. blangorum in Rattus is currently unknown, although it is morphologically similar to R. tiomanicus, in which it was formerly included (separated based on multivariant morphological data). Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in N Sumatra.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 139-149 mm, tail 161-175 mm, ear 16-18 mm, hindfoot 32-32-5 mm; weight 73-7-90-7 g. The Aceh Rat is small and similar to the Malaysian Field Rat ( R. tiomanicus). Pelage is long and soft. Dorsum is yellowish ocherous buff. Venteris light grayish cream buff, with darker ocherous buff strip on chest. Feet are covered with silvery hair dorsally. Tail is ¢.116% of head-body length and dark blackish brown. Skull is smaller than that of the Malaysian Field Rat.

Habitat. [Lowland forests at an elevation of 1097 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. There is almost nothing known about the Aceh Rat, especially becauseit is only known from two specimens collected at the type locality. It may be found in Gunung Leuser National Park. Additional research is needed tofully understand its natural history, taxonomy, and conservation threats.

Bibliography. Lunde & Aplin (2008b), Miller (1942), Musser & Califia (1982), Musser & Carleton (2005).