774.

Hog-nosed Shrew Rat

Hyorhinomys stuempkei

French: Rat de Stimpke / German: Schweinsnasen-Spitzmausratte / Spanish: Rata musarana de hocico de cerdo

Other common names: Hog-nosed Rat, Sulawesi Snouter

Taxonomy. Hyorhinomys stuempkei Esselstyn et al., 2015,

“Indonesia, Sulawesi Island, Central Sulawesi, Tolitoli, Galang, Malangga Selatan, Mt. Dako, 1-10607°N 120-93853°E, 1600 m asl.”

Hyorhinomysis basal to all other genera in the shrew and water rats clade ( Sommeromys, Waiomys, Gracilimus, Paucidentomys, Echiothrix, Tateomys, and Melasmothrix). Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in N Sulawesi.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 175-208 mm,tail 185-220 mm, ear 37-40 mm, hindfoot 50-54 mm; weight 128-268 g. The Hog-nosed Shrew Rat is large and a highly distinctive Sulawesi endemic shrew rat, with large head and chest relative to body size and very long rostrum. Pelage is short, sparse, and soft. Dorsum is blotchy medium brown, with mild sheen, and darkest around eyes and snout. Individual hairs have white bases, pale gray middles, and dark brown tips. Some individuals have white patch on forehead. Vibrissae are thin, black at bases, and pale gray at tips. Venter is creamy white and extends up to dorsal part of legs. Urogenital hair is very long. Hindfeet are dark, digits are hairless, and claws have tuft of white hairs at bases. Pollex has small nail and hindfeet are long. Ears are very long and light brown. Tail is short compared with other shrew rats (c.106% of head-body length) and bicolored, brown above, white below, and white on distal part. Nostrils face forward, and rostrum is distinctly pink and large. Tongue has groove down middle. Skull is large and elongated, with long bottom incisors.

Habitat. Montane tropical forest at elevations of ¢.1600 m.

Food and Feeding. The Hog-nosed Shrew Rat is insectivorous and vermivorous. Stomachs ofthree specimens were filled with remains of earthworms, beetle larvae, and various unidentified insects.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Hog-nosed Shrew Rat is probably terrrestrial and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. The Hog-nosed Shrew Rat is endemic to a very small area and may be at risk, but more research is needed on its natural history and distribution.

Bibliography. Esselstyn et al. (2015), Rowe et al. (2016a, 2016b).