445.

Rwenzori Shaggy Rat

Dasymys montanus

French: Dasymys de montagne / German: Berg-\ Wollhaarratte / Spanish: Rata peluda de Rwenzori

Other common names: Montane Dasymys, Montane Shaggy Rat, Rwenzori Dasymys

Taxonomy. Dasymys montanus Thomas, 1906,

“[Mount] Ruwenzori East, Uganda, 12,500" [= 3810 m],” Uganda .

Dasymys montanus was previously considered to be part of D. incomtus, but was elevated to species rank on basis of morphological data. It is distinctive in having very short and uniformly dark tail, small body, and small skull size. Monotypic.

Distribution. Rwenzori Mts, Uganda, at altitudes above 2600 m.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 132-156 mm, tail 93-115 mm, ear 17-19 mm, hindfoot 28-31 mm; weight 69-100 g. As with all Dasymys, fur of the Rwenzori Shaggy Rat is soft, shaggy, long-haired, and reddish-brown in color dorsally and dull gray ventrally. Head is broad, with short muzzle, vibrissae long, and ears rounded and well furred on inside. Tail is relatively shorter (70% of head-body length) than that of any other Dasymys, uniformly black, heavily scaled, and sparsely haired.

Mozambique Thicket Rat ( Grammomys cometes); 468. Woodland Thicket Rat ( Grammomys dolichurus).

Habitat. Alpine and subalpine meadows.

Food and Feeding. The Rwenzori Shaggy Rat is presumably herbivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Rwenzori Shaggy Rats are nocturnal and diurnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Happold (2013a), Kerbis Peterhans et al. (1998), Monadjem et al. (2015), Mullin, Pillay & Taylor (2004, 2005), Mullin, Taylor & Pillay (2004), Musser & Carleton (1993, 2005).