724.

Burmese Tree Rat

Chiromyscus chiropus

French: Rat de Fea / German: Burma-Fea-Baumratte / Spanish: Rata arboricola de Birmania

Other common names: Fea's Tree Rat, Indochinese Chiromyscus

Taxonomy. Mus chiropus Thomas, 1891,

Carin Hills, Burma (= Myanmar).

Chiromyscus chiropus was characterized by

a “masked” face for a long time before

A. E. Balakirev and colleagues in 2014

determined that the type specimen of C. chiropus did not have a face mask and that masked specimens belonged to a previously unnamed species, C. thomast. The true C. chiropus has been misidentified as Niviventer cremoriventer, especially in southern Vietnam. Because of recent taxonomic changes, specimens from regions previously included under C. chiropus (south-western China, northern Laos, northern and central Vietnam, and northern and central Thailand) need to be examined to determine their specific status as either C. chiropus, C. thomasi or C. langbianis . Monotypic.

Distribution. E Myanmar and S Vietnam, but range limits still unknown.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 138-160 mm, tail 200-233 mm, ear 19-20 mm, hindfoot 27-29 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Burmese Tree Rat is medium-sized, with bright ocherous dorsum that fades into venter with intermediate zone of orange buff and seems to extend onto chest and chin region. Venteris creamy white, with orange hue that extends onto inner thighs. Tail is long, unicolored, and dark brown proximally. Vibrissae are long, extending behind head, and ears are small, rounded, and pale brown on top. Claws are long and curved, although hallux has nail instead of claw. Skull is robust and has more convex profile when viewed from the side compared with other species of Chiromyscus . Diploid numberis 2n = 22.

Habitat. Moist tropical deciduous and evergreen forests, mosaic scrub areas and degraded or secondary regrowth.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Burmese Tree Rat is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Burmese Tree Rat is in need of further study because there are so few museum specimens representing it, despite apparently being locally abundant. It may be found in degraded habitat, suggesting it can withstand some human pressure.

Bibliography. Aplin & Lunde (2016), Balakirev et al. (2014), Chen Zhiping et al. (1995), Smith & Yan Xie (2008), Thomas (1891b, 1925d).