657.

Montane Javan White-bellied Rat

Niviventer lepturus

French: Rat a queue fine / German: Java-WeilRbauchratte / Spanish: Rata de vientre blanco de montana de Java

Other common names: Montane Javan Niviventer, Narrow-tailed White-bellied Rat

Taxonomy. Mus lepturus Jentink, 1880,

“Java,” Indonesia.

Nwvwventer lepturus has not been included in any genetic studies. Monotypic.

Distribution. W & C Java.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 135 mm, tail 178 mm, ear 17 mm, hindfoot 26 mm (taken from the original description), No specific data are available for body weight. The Montane Javan White-bellied Rat is medium-sized, with slate brown dorsum having dark black flexible spines throughout and white venter. Tail is very long (c.132% of head-body length), bicolored on proximal two-thirds (dark brown above, paler below), and paler than rest of dorsal surface, mottled or white on distal onethird. Tops of feet have dark brown or chestnut stripes that extend to white toes. Ears are dark brown; vibrissae are long. There are five digits on each foot, with fifth digit reduced with small claw. Skull is elongated. Nematodes Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Caplaria hepatica, Cyclodontostomum purvisi, Hepatojarakus malayae, Rictularia tani, Mastophorus murs, Physaloptera sp., and Subulura andersoni have been found in Montane Javan White-bellied Rats. There are four pairs of mammae: one pectoral, one post-axillary, one abdominal, and one inguinal. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 46, FN = 52.

Habitat. Montane forests presumably at elevations above 1000 m to nearly 2000 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Montane Javan White-bellied Rat has a limited distribution, is locally very common and easy to trap, but virtually nothing is known about its natural history or phylogenetic position. It occurs in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park.

Bibliography. Aplin (2016e), Dewi & Purwaningsih (2013), Duncan et al. (1974), Jentink (1880), Maharadatunkamsi (2001), Musser (1981a), Musser & Carleton (2005), Wiroreno (1978).