Lophuromys medicaudatus, Dieterlen, 1975

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Muridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 536-884 : 611

42.

Western Rift Brush-furred Rat

Lophuromys medicaudatus

French: Rat-hérissé a longue queue / German: Kivu-Burstenhaarmaus / Spanish: Rata de pelaje de cepillo del Valle Occidental

Other common names: Medium-tailed Brush-furred Rat

Taxonomy. Lophuromys medicaudatus Dieterlen, 1975 ,

Lemera-Nyabutera, Kivu re- gion, DR Congo.

Lophuromys medicaudatus , L. woosnami , and L. luteogaster are in subgenus Kivumys and woosnami species group. Monotypic. Distribution. Endemic to the Albertine Rift, occurring around Lake Kivu in E DR Congo and Rwanda and SW Uganda (Bwindi). Descriptive notes. Head—body 92-112 mm, tail 73-95 mm, ear 15-19 mm, hindfoot 18-23 mm; weight 29-43 g. Similar to other species in subgenus Kivumys, the Western Rift Brush-furred Rat has unspeckled pelage, and tail ¢.85% of head-body length. Dorsum is uniform dark brown-olive, and venter is orange. Females have three pairs of mammae. Habitat. Mountain swamps and mountain forests at elevations of 1850-2500 m. Food and Feeding. The Western Rift Brush-furred Rat is omnivorous; diets contain 30-100% arthropods, mollusks, seeds, and fruits. Breeding. Female Western Rift Brush-furred Rats can have 1-2 embryos. Pregnant females were observed in February, April, and July. Activity patterns. The Western Rift Brush-furred Rat is terrestrial. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information. Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Western Rift Brush-furred Rat has never been found in modified secondary environment and is quite rare. Bibliography. Dieterlen (1976b, 1987 2013g), Kasangaki et al. (2003), Verheyen et al. (1996).

Figures

23. Angolan Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys angolensis), 24. Ansorge’s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys ansorgei), 25. Dark-colored Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys aquilus), 26. Short-tailed Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys brevicaudus), 27. Ethiopian Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys brunneus), 28. Mount Chercher Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys chercherensis), 29. Ethiopian Forest Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys chrysopus), 30. Gray Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys cinereus), 31. Mount Oku Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys dieterleni), 32. Dudu’s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys duduz), 33. Mount Lefo Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys eisentraut), 34. Buff-spotted Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys flavopunctatus), 35. Hutterer’s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys huttereri), 36. Kilonzo’s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys kilonzo), 37. Albertine Rift Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys laticeps), 38. Buff-bellied Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys luteogaster), 39. Machangu’s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys machangui), 40. Makundi’s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys makundii), 41. Margaret's Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys margarettae), 42. Western Rift Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys medicaudatus), 43. Black-clawed Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys melanonyx), 44. North Western Rift Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys menageshae), 45. Naked-tailed Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys nudicaudus), 46. Sheko Forest Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys pseudosikapusi), 47. Rahm’s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys rahmi), 48. Congolese Brush-furred (Rat Lophuromysrita), 49. Mount Cameroon Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys rosevear), 50. Sabuni’s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys sabunii), 51. Western Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys stkapusi), 52. Simien Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys simensis), 53. Rwenzori Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys stanleyi), 54. Verhagen’s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys verhageni), 55. Woosnam' ’ s Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys woosnami), 56. Zena Brush-furred Rat (Lophuromys zena), 57. Rudd’s Bristle-furred Rat (Uranomys ruddi)

Lophuromys medicaudatus , L. woosnami , and L. luteogaster are in subgenus Kivumys and woosnami species group. Monotypic. Distribution. Endemic to the Albertine Rift, occurring around Lake Kivu in E DR Congo and Rwanda and SW Uganda (Bwindi). Descriptive notes. Head—body 92-112 mm, tail 73-95 mm, ear 15-19 mm, hindfoot 18-23 mm; weight 29-43 g. Similar to other species in subgenus Kivumys, the Western Rift Brush-furred Rat has unspeckled pelage, and tail ¢.85% of head-body length. Dorsum is uniform dark brown-olive, and venter is orange. Females have three pairs of mammae. Habitat. Mountain swamps and mountain forests at elevations of 1850-2500 m. Food and Feeding. The Western Rift Brush-furred Rat is omnivorous; diets contain 30-100% arthropods, mollusks, seeds, and fruits. Breeding. Female Western Rift Brush-furred Rats can have 1-2 embryos. Pregnant females were observed in February, April, and July. Activity patterns. The Western Rift Brush-furred Rat is terrestrial. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information. Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Western Rift Brush-furred Rat has never been found in modified secondary environment and is quite rare. Bibliography. Dieterlen (1976b, 1987 2013g), Kasangaki et al. (2003), Verheyen et al. (1996).