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Fawn-footed Mosaic-tailed Rat

Melomys cervinipes

French: Mélomys a pattes fauves / German: KitzflRige Mosaikschwanzratte / Spanish: Rata de cola moteada de pies beige

Other common names: Fawn-footed Melomys

Taxonomy. Mus cervinipes Gould, 1852,

Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia.

Placed in genus Melomys byO. Thomas in 1922, M. cervinipes was included in subgenus Melomys by H. Rummler in 1936 as a full species. G. H. H. Tate in 1951 regrouped it within Paramelomys, but J. I. Menzies’ 1996 treatment followed that of C. H. S. Watts and P. R. Baverstock in 1994 and returned it to Melomys, placing it in the so-called “ M. cervinipes division” that included also M. frigicola . In 2011, L.. M. Bryant and coworkers provided a molecular phylogeny that showed great variability within M. cervinipes, which may be a species complex. P. H. Fabre and team in 2017 also found great variability in M. cervinipes, sister of which being a cladethat includes M. rubicola + M. capensis . Monotypic.

Distribution. From NE Queensland S to C coastal New South Wales, E Australia, including offshore islands of Dunk, Hinchinbrook, Carlisle, Middle, Fraser, and North Stradbroke.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 95-200 mm, tail 105-180 mm, hindfoot 30-34 mm; weight 45-120 g. This Melomys species displays a dull reddish-brown to orange-brown dorsal soft pelage, and gray-buff to white ventral fur, with fawn-colored feet. Tail is longer than head-body length;it is semi-prehensile, is brown to black, and may end in a white tip. Females have two pairs of mammae.

Habitat. [Lowland primary rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest, wooded coastal swamps, and mangroves.

Food and Feeding. The Fawn-footed Mosaic-tailed Rat is considered a herbivore by B. Breed and F. Ford, with a diet composed of leaves, shoots, seeds, and fruit.

Breeding. Reproduction may occur throughout year. Gestation lasts ¢.40 days, and average littersize is three. Young open eyes at ten days and are weaned at 28 days.

Activity patterns. The Fawn-footed Mosaic-tailed Rat is a good climber; it makes nests in trees, using leaves of Pandanus, bananas, or grass.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Males have an exclusive home range, which is defended against intruders.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Fawnfooted Mosaic-tailed Rat has a wide distribution along the east coast of Australia, where it is abundant.

Bibliography. Breed & Ford (2007), Bryant et al. (2011), Fabre, Fitriana et al. (2017), Menzies (1996), Moore & Burnett (2008), Rimmler (1936), Tate (1951), Thomas (1922c), Watts & Baverstock (1994b), Wood (1971).