Lophuromys rahmi, Verheyen, 1964

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 : 612

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6887260

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6868123

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E275-3429-FF98-E19F-24457F0982F1

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Lophuromys rahmi
status

 

47. View Plate 33: Muridae

Rahm’s Brush-furred Rat

Lophuromys rahmi View in CoL

French

: Rat-hérissé de Rahm / German: Rahm-Birstenhaarmaus / Spanish: Rata de pelaje de cepillo de Rahm

Taxonomy. Lophuromys rahmi W. N. Verheyen, 1964 View in CoL ,

Bogamanda near Lemera, Kivu, DR Congo.

Lophuromys rahmi was described based on striking morphological differences com- pared with other known species of Lophuromys . Its affinities with either L. sikapusi species group or L. flavopunctatus species group have not been clarified. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to the Albertine Rift around Lake Kivu in E DR Congo and Rwanda. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head—body 95-116 mm, tail 48-56 mm, ear 10-15 mm, hindfoot 13-18 mm; weight 30-45 g. Rahm’s Brush-furred Rat and the Western Brush-furred Rat (L. stkapusi) have unspeckled dark-reddish brown dorsum and orange-red belly. Rahm’s Brush-furred Rat is small (especially hindfeet and head-bodylength) compared with the Buff-spotted Brush-furred Rat ( L. flavopunctatus ) and the Western Brush-furred Rat. Tail of Rahm’s Brush-furred Rat is short (49-5-52-6% of headbody length). Skull is rather small, with large interorbital constriction and short rostrum.

Habitat. Mountain forests of the Albertine Rift around Kivu Lake at elevationsof 1900-2500 m. In Kahuzi-Biéga National Park (DR Congo), Rahm’s Brush-furred Rat was trapped in primary and secondary mountain forest with grass undercover and near swamps and small streams.

Food and Feeding. Rahm’s Brush-furred Rat is omnivorous; insects larvae, caterpillars, beetles, ants, and some seeds are important dietary items.

Breeding. Female Rahm’s Brush-furred Rats can have two embryos and be pregnant in February—July.

Activity patterns. Rahm’s Brush-furred Ratis terrestrial and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Rahm’s Brush-furred Rat forages on the ground in Jeaf litter or among grass.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Rahm’s Brush-furred Rat faces habitat destruction from logging, burning, cultivation, and pasture development.

Bibliography. Dieterlen (1976b), Kaleme et al. (2007), Kasangaki et al. (2003), Rahm (1967), Van der Straeten & Verheyen (1983), Verheyen (1964), Verschuren et al. (1983).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Muridae

Genus

Lophuromys

Loc

Lophuromys rahmi

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

Lophuromys rahmi

W. N. Verheyen 1964
1964
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