481.

Common Rufous-nosed Rat

Oenomys hypoxanthus

French: Oenomys a museau roux / German: Gewohnliche Rotnasenratte / Spanish: Rata de hocico rojo comun

Other common names: Common Oenomys, Common Rufous-toothed Rat, Rufous-nosed Rat

Taxonomy. Mus hypoxanthus Pucheran, 1855,

Gabon

.

Extensive color and morphological variation has resulted in the describing of a number of geographical subspecies; variation, however, occurs also within singlesite populations. Treated as monotypic.

Distribution. Widely distributed in tropical Africa from Dahomey Gap E to Ethiopia and S to N Angola, S DR Congo, and SW Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 136-185 mm, tail 152-199 mm, ear 13-25 mm, hindfoot 29-35 mm; weight 74-138 g. The Common Rufous-nosed Rat is a medium-sized to large, slender, very long-tailed rodent with rufous-colored cheeks and nose. Fur is long, dense, and rough, grayish brown to rufous brown, speckled with yellowish buff above and on flanks, contrasting with orange on rump and upper thighs and with pure white orcreamy white, sometimes suffused with orange, below. Nose,lips, and cheeks are bright orange or russet; eyes may have dark russet rings. Ears are large, rounded, and covered with short russet hairs. Feet russet or brown above, withpale claws. Tail is very long (114-133% of head-body length), scaly, and sparsely haired, dark above and yellowish below. Females usually have 2+1 =3 pairs of nipples, sometimes 1+2 = 3 pairs or 1+1 = 2 pairs. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32, FN = 58.

Habitat. Dense tall, grassy, and shrubby habitats on edges of forests, swamps, agricultural lands, and clearings, from sea level to 3300 m. Commonly found in elephant grass (Pennisetum, Poaceae).

Food and Feeding. The Common Rufous-nosed Rat typically consumes grass stems and leaves (including elephant grass), herbs, and forest and cultivated fruits, as well as bark and invertebrates other than insects.

Breeding. In DR Congo, breeding is seasonal, reduced in drier months, at lower elevations (800-2000 m), and aseasonal at higher elevations (2000-2400 m). Females have 1-5 young (average c.2). Gestation lasts at least 22 days.

Activity patterns. Common Rufous-nosed Rats are terrestrial, but able to climb on grasses and small bushes. They are nocturnal and diurnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Common Rufous-nosed Rats build nests of grass 50-300 cm off ground ongrass stems or on twigs of shrubs.

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

Bibliography. Dieterlen (1967a, 1967b, 1967c, 1985a), Dieterlen & Rupp (1976), Genest-Villard (1980), Happold (2013a), Maddalena et al. (1989), Monadjem et al. (2015), Rosevear (1969).