800.

Mindoro Climbing Rat

Anonymomys mindorensis

French: Rat-sauteur de Mindoro / German: Mindoro-Anonymus-Ratte / Spanish: Rata trepadora de Mindoro Other common names: Mindoro Forest Anonymomys, Mindoro Rat

Taxonomy. Anonymomys mindorensis Musser, 1981,

Ilong Peak, 1370 m, Halcon Range, Mindoro Island, Philippines.

Anonymomys mindorensis was still considered in the Dacnomys group by G. G.Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005. It might be a remnant lineage; phylogenetic relationships need to be assessed by molecular studies. Monotypic.

Distribution. N Mindoro I, N Philippines.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 144- 146 mm, tail 196-223 mm, ear 19-20 mm, hindfoot 29-31 mm; weight 83-90 g. The Mindoro Climbing Rat is small, with stocky body, long tail, and wide hindfeet. Pelage is long and dense, with numerous soft spines. Upperparts are bright buffy brown or tawny brown; underparts are creamy. Tail is unicolored brown, with tufted tip. Ears are small, tan, and sparsely haired. Face has no mask. Vibrissae on muzzle and above eyes reaches up to 55 mm. Externally, it resembles the Sundaic Arboreal White-bellied Rat (Newvrventer cremoriventer) but differs by having paler and less spiny pelage, shorter and broader rostrum, more domed braincase, much larger bullae, and relatively larger teeth. From species of Rattus and Limnomys, the Mindoro Climbing Rat is distinguished by having smaller bullae and other cranial features.

Habitat. Rapidly disappearing primary forests and secondary forests at elevations of 140-1650 m.

Food and Feeding. The Mindoro Climbing Rat is probably herbivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Mindoro Climbing Rats are moderately common, nocturnal, and primarily arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Mindoro Climbing Rat is very poorly known. Additional studies are needed into its taxonomy and natural history to clarify conservation needs.

Bibliography. Gerrie & Kennerley (2016e), Heaney, Balete et al. (1998), Heaney, Dolar et al. (2010), Musser (1981a), Musser & Carleton (2005).