636.

Manipur White-toothed Rat

Berylmys manipulus

French: Rat du Manipur / German: Manipur \ Weil 3 zahnratte / Spanish: Rata de dientes blancos de Manipur

Other common names: Manipur Berylmys

Taxonomy. Epimys manipulus Thomas, 1916

, “Kabaw Valley, 20 mi [= 32 km] W. of Kindat, Upper Burma. Alt. 600° [= 183 m].”

Polytypic, but number, diagnoses, and ranges ofsubspecies requirereview.

Distribution. NE India, N Myanmar, and SC China (Yunnan).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 135-185 mm, tail 140-187 mm, ear 23-25 mm, hindfoot 33—40 mm; weight 43 g. The Manipur White-toothed Rat is small; pelage is typical of species of Berylmys, with iron gray dorsum and whitish venter—both well-delineated; white-tipped tail is equal to or longer than head-body length; incisive foramina

are anterior to M'; palatal bridge is anterior or at the level of M?, molar rows are short; tympanic bulla is small compared with skull length; bulla is not inflated compared with that on Berdmore’s Whitetoothed Rat (B. berdmorer); incisors are less proodont than other species of Berylmys; frequency of antero-labial cusps is higher on M,. There are ten pairs of mammae: one pectoral, two post-axillaries, and two inguinal pairs.

Habitat. Evergreen rainforest, heavy jungle, perhaps favoring oak-shrub habitat with or without tall grass, riverine scrub, and meadows at elevations of 75-1524 m. The Manipur White-toothed Rat does not occur near agricultural areas or villages and cities.

Food and Feeding. The Manipur White-toothed Rat is omnivorous, reportedly eating plants, insects, and earthworms.

Breeding. Two old female Manipur White-toothed Rats were caught with eight and nine young.

Activity patterns. The Manipur White-toothed Ratis strictly terrestrial and nocturnal. It burrows and is often collect near holes.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Distribution is poorly known, but it is relatively wide and might include some national parks. It might be preyed on by humans in some parts of India and has been considered a pest under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Bibliography. Agrawal (2000), Musser & Carleton (2005), Musser & Newcomb (1983), Molur et al. (2005), Roonwal (1949), Smith & Yan Xie (2008), Wang Yingxiang (2003), Wroughton (1916), Yang Guangrong & Wu Delin (1979), Zhang Yongzu et al. (1997).