645.

Hainan White-bellied Rat

Niviventer lotipes

French: Rat de Hainan / German: Hainan-Weilbauchratte / Spanish: Rata de vientre blanco de Hainan

Other common names: Hainan Niviventer

Taxonomy. Rattus confucianus lotipes G. M. Allen, 1926,

“near Nodoa, island of Hainan, China.”

Niviventer lotipes has been placed in N. confucianus and N. tenaster since it was described, although it was most recently included in N. tenaster based on morphology. Niwiventer lotipes was recently recognized as a distinct species based on karyological data and validated by phylogenetic data, which found it close to N. coninga and N. tenaster sister to this clade. Additional morphological and genetic studies are needed to verify its true placement of N. lotipes. Monotypic.

Distribution. Hainan I, S China.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 170 mm, tail 181 mm, ear 221 mm, hindfoot 30 mm; weight 97 g(from one specimen). The Hainan White-bellied Rat is larger than the Indochinese White-bellied Rat ( N. fulvescens) but smaller than the Indochinese Mountain White-bellied Rat (NN. tenaster, to which it is very similar) and the Confucian Whitebellied Rat ( N. confucianus). Pelage is soft, with flexible spines. Dorsum is ocherous brown, with dark brown spines mixed throughout. Dorsal and ventral pelage does not seem to be as sharply demarcated as other species of Niviventer, having whiter intermediate zone on sides. Venter is plain white, without any dark markings on chin or chest. Ears are dark brown; vibrissae are long. Top offeet have brownstripes that end right before white toes. Tail is rather short (¢.107% of head-body length based on one specimen) and slightly bicolored, dark brown above and slightly and inconsistently paler brown below. There are five digits on each foot, with fifth digit reduced with small claw. Skull has deeper braincase than on the Indochinese White-bellied Rat. There are four pairs of mammae: one pectoral, one post-axillary, one abdominal, and one inguinal. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 52, FN = 66—very distinct from the Indochinese Mountain White-bellied Rat.

Habitat. Montane forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Hainan White-bellied Rat is probably nocturnal and mostly terrestrial, occasionally using low vines.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. The Hainan White-bellied Rat was only recently recognized as a distinct species. It is only found on Hainan and might be at risk from habitat degradation. It is in need ofadditional research intoits natural history and phylogenetic position.

Bibliography. Allen (1926), Li Yuchun et al. (2008), Lu Liang et al. (2015), Musser (1981a), Musser & Carleton (2005), Smith & Yan Xie (2008).