731.

Neill’s Long-tailed Giant Rat

Leopoldamys neilli

French: Rat de Neill / German: Neill-Langschwanz-Riesenratte / Spanish: Rata gigante de cola larga de Neill

Other common names: Limestone Long-tailed Giant Rat, Neill's Leopoldamys

Taxonomy. Rattus neilli J. T. Marshall, 1976,

“outside the entrance to the bat cave, halfway up the face of a wooded limestone cliff, 200 meters altitude,” Kaengkhoi District, Saraburi Province, Thailand.

Leopoldamys neilliwas recently synonymized under L. herberti based on genetic data from specimens near both type localities clustering together, while specimens in part of the distribution of L. sabanus and L. edwardsi were given the name L. rvertens. Another study refuting this view found that the holotype of L. herbert: actually clustered morphological with populations of L. revertens, and other specimens from near the type locality also clustered genetically with them. Thus, L. neilli is recognized as the valid name for the species it represented before being synonymized under L. her-berti, while L. herbert: is the correct name for animals allocated to L. revertens because herberti has priority over revertens. Leopoldamys neilli is sister to the edwardsi and sabanus genetic clusters. There is considerable genetic variability that should be investigated further.

Distribution. N &WC Thailand, C Laos, and N & WC Vietnam.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 200-235 mm, tail 240-300 mm, ear 39-45 mm, hindfoot 25-29 mm; weight 220 g. Neill’s Long-tailed Giant Rat is medium-sized, with short and sleek pelage. Dorsum is dark brown or grayish brown, becoming more fulvous brown onsides with long darker guard hairs throughout. Venter is white and sharply demarcated from dorsum. Feet have dark brown stripe dorsally, and hindfeet are long. Ears are long, leathery, naked, and dark brown; vibrissae are very long. Tail is ¢.124% of head-body length and dark brownish black above and white below and at tip. Skull is large, with broader braincase than that of Herbert's Long-tailed Giant Rat (L. herber-ti). There are four pairs of mammae: one pectoral, one post-axillary, and two inguinal pairs. Chromosomal complementis 2n = 44, FN = 52.

Habitat. Wooded cliffs on limestone karst and lowland bamboo forests at elevations of 100-800 m.

Food and Feeding. Neill’s Long-tailed Giant Rat is mostly herbivorous and might eat insects. A preliminary analysis of feces found 21 plant families in eleven orders, with species of Solanaceae most prevalent in all regions and seasons that samples were collected from.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Neill’s Long-tailed Giant Rat is nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Neill’s Long-tailed Giant Rat seems to be abundantin its limestone karst distribution at least, having large distribution and probably stable overall population. It is at risk of habitat loss from quarrying of limestone, but no other major threats are known. It occurs in Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary and perhaps Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park.

Bibliography. Balakirev, Abramov & Rozhnov (2013), Correia (2016a), Francis (2008), Latinne, Chaval et al. (2013), Latinne, Galan et al. (2014), Latinne, Waengsothorn, Herbreteau & Michaux (2011a), Latinne, Waengsothorn, Rojanadilok et al. (2013), Lekagul & McNeely (1977), Musser (1981a), Musser & Carleton (2005).