Ichthyomys hydrobates (Winge, 1891)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 407

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6707142

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6726746

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F06D13-FF2E-20E7-0D9F-12900C30F3EE

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Ichthyomys hydrobates
status

 

346. View Plate 19: Cricetidae

Common Crab-eating Rat

Ichthyomys hydrobates View in CoL

French: Ichthyomys de Winge / German: Gemeine Krabbenratte / Spanish: Rata cangrejera comun

Other common names: Crab-eating Rat, Silverbellied Ichthyomyine

Taxonomy. Habrothrix hydrobates Winge, 1891 , Sierra de Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela.

As currently recognized, I. hydrobates is widely distributed across dissected mountainous terrain and includes at least three diagnosable different populations usually treated as subspecies.

Subspecies and Distribution.

I.h.hydrobatesWinge,1891—WVenezuela.

I.h.niceforiThomas,1924—WColombia.

I. h. soederstroemi de Winton, 1896 — NC Ecuador. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 134-182 mm,tail 125-150 mm, ear 8-10 mm, hindfoot 30-36 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Dorsum of the Common Crabeating Rat is bright brown gray, sometimes with hairs of lighter ends intermingled, giving mottled appearance. Venter is pure white to silver gray, with dark gray hairs at bases. Tail is uniformly dark. Outer edges of feet and fingers have fringes of rigid silver-to-white hair.

Habitat. Andean tall rainforest, cloud forest, or secondary forest at elevations of c.1000-2800 m. The Common Crab-eating Rat is currently found along banks of forest streams or irrigation canals in agricultural areas.

Food and Feeding. Diet consists of crabs and other aquatic invertebrates.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Common Crab-eating Rat is diurnal and nocturnal. Itis semi-aquatic.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The species is solitary.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Despite the large distribution of the Common Crab-eating Rat,this classification is due to pressures on its habitat and the possibility of a species complex. Populations are probably declining due to habitat loss from deforestation and water pollution, but rate of decline does appear to fast enough to qualify for Vulnerable classification.

Bibliography. Brito, Orellana-Vasquez et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (2005), Soriano & Tirira (2008), Thomas (1924a), Voss (1988, 2015b), Voss et al. (1982), Winge (1891), de Winton (1896).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Cricetidae

Genus

Ichthyomys

Loc

Ichthyomys hydrobates

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr 2017
2017
Loc

Habrothrix hydrobates

Winge 1891
1891
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