613.

Least Soft-furred Mouse

Praomys minor

French: Praomys mineur / German: Zwerg-Weichhaarratte / Spanish: Raton de pelaje suave minimo

Other common names: [east Praomys

Taxonomy. Praomys jacksoni minor Hatt, 1934,

“Lukolela, middle Congo,” Equateur District, DR Congo.

Praomys minor is in the P. jacksoni species group and can be distinguished from other members of this group with molecular data. Monotypic.

Distribution. Occurs at very few scattered localities S & W of the Congo River, DR Congo;it has been recently recorded from Mwinilunga District, NW Zambia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 80-118 mm, tail 102-145 mm, ear 13-18 mm, hindfoot 19-22 mm; weight 26-5 g (mean). Fur of the Least Soft-furred Mouse is dark brown (younger) to warm brown (older) above, paler on flanks, and whitish gray below. Tail is very long (c.120-130% of head—body length), almost naked, and dark brown above and below; it sometimes has irregular pale spots. Some males have white patch or stripe in front of penis. Eye-ring is dark. Hindfeet and forefeet are white. Females have three pairs of nipples.

Habitat. Primary and secondary forests,fields, and cropland.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Least Soft-furred Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Bryja et al. (2012), Happold (2013a), Hatt (1934), Kennis et al. (2011), Monadjem et al. (2015).