686.

South-western Xanthurus Rat

Rattus bontanus

French: Rat du Bonthain / German: Stdwestliche Gelbschwanzratte / Spanish: Rata de cola dorada de Bonthain

Other common names: Bonthain Rat

Taxonomy. Rattus bontanus Thomas, 1921,

“Indrulaman, Mount Bonthain [= Gunung Lampobatang], 2000’ [= 610 m],” south-western Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Rattus bontanus is in the R. xanthurus species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Mt Lampobatang and adjacent lowlands, SW peninsula of Sulawesi; possibly also in limestone formations N of known distribution.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 187- 236 mm, tail 232-302 mm, hindfoot 43-46 mm. Nospecific data are available for body weight. The South-western Xanthurus Rat is medium to large, with long and relatively soft pelage and long dark guard hairs. Dorsum is generally cinnamon brown; venter is grayish white. Feet are brown,lighter on terminal digits. Ears are brown. Tail is ¢.125% of head-body length, nearly naked, and blackish brown basally and the rest white. Skull has long palatal foramina and heavy broad molars.

Habitat. Tropical lowland evergreen and montane rainforests from near sea level in lowlands to elevations of 600-2500 m in montane forests. The South-western Xanthurus Rat might occur in coconut plantations.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Southwestern Xanthurus Rat is found in Gunung Lampobatang Protected Forest. It might be threatened by competition with introduced species of Rattus and habitat loss and degradation in lowlands. Research is needed to fully understand its natural history, taxonomy, and conservation threats.

Bibliography. Musser (2014), Musser & Carleton (2005), Musser & Holden (1991), Pages et al. (2010), Steppan & Schenk (2017), Thomas (1921d).