808.

Gray-bellied Moss Mouse

Limnomys bryophilus

French: Rat bryophile / German: Graubauch-Moosratte / Spanish: Ratéon de musgo de vientre gris

Other common names: Gray-bellied Limnomys

Taxonomy. Limnomys bryophilus Rickart, Heaney & Tabaranza, 2003,

18-5 km S, 4 km E Camp Phillips, 2250 m, Mount Kitanglad Range, Bukidnon Province, north-central Mindanao Island, Philippines.

Limnomys bryophilus was believed to be an

undescribed species of Tarsomys, according to L. R. Heaney and colleagues in 1998. According to the most recent phylogeny by S. J. Steppan and J. J. Schenk in 2017, L. bryophilus is a close ally of L. sibuanus, nested in a well-supported clade containing Limnomys, 1. apoensis, and Rattus everetti . Monotypic.

Distribution. Kitanglad Mountain Range, Mindanao I, Philippines (perhaps other high peaks of C Mindanao I).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 121-140 mm, tail 152-181 mm, ear 20-24 mm, hindfoot 30-35 mm; weight 48-90 g. The Gray-bellied Moss Mouse is slightly larger than the Long-tailed Moss Mouse (L. sitbuanus) in most external and cranial measurements. Pelage is long, thick, and soft. Upperparts are yellowish brown, darkest mid-dorsally and on rump, and paler on sides. Underparts are grayish white, with moderately demarcation against dorsum. There is usually a band of bufty fur acrosslower neck. Ears are brown and sparsely covered with hair. Tail is substantially longer than head-body length and relatively well-haired. It is dark brown for most of its length, with white tail tip (5—=20 mm), which is not present in most Long-tailed Moss Mice or much smaller. Forefeet and hindfeet are unpigmented and sparsely covered with short, light brown hair on top and silvery white laterally and on digits. The Gray-bellied Moss Mouse differs from the Long-tailed Moss Mouse in having relatively longer tail, larger and wider hindfeet, softer pelage with grayish white venter, larger skull with longer rostrum, larger auditory bullae, larger molars, and other cranial and dental features. There are three pairs of mammae: one post-axillary and two inguinal.

Habitat. Primary mossy montane forest at elevations from 2250 m to 2800 m. At the type locality on a steep ridgeon northern flank of Mount Kitanglad (2250 m elevation), Gray-bellied Moss Mice were captured in a transition zone between lower montane and upper montane rainforest, dominated by several species of gymnosperms, laurels, and epiphytes (moss, ferns, lichen, and orchids). Soil was covered with deep humus layer and leaf litter. Understory plants included broadleaf saplings, Rhododendron (Ericaceae) and other shrubs, ferns, and sedges. The Gray-bellied Moss Mouse and the Long-tailed Moss Mouse are sympatric on Mount Kitanglad.

Food and Feeding. The Gray-bellied Moss Mouse eats seeds, fruits, arthropods, and earthworms on the ground and often in steep areas.

Breeding. Gray-bellied Moss Mice have small litters (1-2 young) once each year.

Activity patterns. Gray-bellied Moss Mice are nocturnal, possibly crepuscular, and terrestrial-scansorial. Most specimens were trapped on steeply sloping ground with abundant moss cover. On Mount Kitanglad and Mount Dulang-dulang (elevations 2375— 2800 m), they were trapped in association with nine other small mammal species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Gray-bellied Moss Mouse is common in high-elevation forests but might be restricted geographically. It occurs in Mount Kitanglad Nature Park, and its habitat is not threatened.

Bibliography. Boitani et al. (2006), Ellerman (1941), Fabre, Hautier et al. (2012), Fabre, Pages et al. (2013), Heaney & Tabaranza (2008), Heaney, Balete et al. (1998), Heaney, Dolar et al. (2010), Heaney, Tabaranza, Rickart et al. (2006), Jansa et al. (2006), Musser & Carleton (2005), Musser & Heaney (1992), Rickart & Heaney (2002), Steppan & Schenk (2017).