Melomys cervinipes (Gould, 1852)

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 : 696

publication ID

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

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6868422

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E275-3446-FFF7-E190-2E7572798BEB

treatment provided by

Carolina (2022-07-01 17:33:32, last updated 2024-11-29 19:21:54)

scientific name

Melomys cervinipes
status

 

266. View Plate 41: Muridae

Fawn-footed Mosaic-tailed Rat

Melomys cervinipes View in CoL

French: Mélomys a pattes fauves / German: KitzflRige Mosaikschwanzratte / Spanish: Rata de cola moteada de pies beige

Other common names: Fawn-footed Melomys

Taxonomy. Mus cervinipes Gould, 1852 ,

Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia.

Placed in genus Melomys byO. Thomas in 1922, M. cervinipes was included in subgenus Melomys by H. Rummler in 1936 as a full species. G. H. H. Tate in 1951 regrouped it within Paramelomys , but J. I. Menzies’ 1996 treatment followed that of C. H. S. Watts and P. R. Baverstock in 1994 and returned it to Melomys , placing it in the so-called “ M. cervinipes division” that included also M. frigicola . In 2011, L.. M. Bryant and coworkers provided a molecular phylogeny that showed great variability within M. cervinipes , which may be a species complex. P. H. Fabre and team in 2017 also found great variability in M. cervinipes , sister of which being a cladethat includes M. rubicola + M. capensis . Monotypic.

Distribution. From NE Queensland S to C coastal New South Wales, E Australia, including offshore islands of Dunk, Hinchinbrook, Carlisle, Middle, Fraser, and North Stradbroke. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 95-200 mm, tail 105-180 mm, hindfoot 30-34 mm; weight 45-120 g. This Melomys species displays a dull reddish-brown to orange-brown dorsal soft pelage, and gray-buff to white ventral fur, with fawn-colored feet. Tail is longer than head-body length;it is semi-prehensile, is brown to black, and may end in a white tip. Females have two pairs of mammae.

Habitat. [Lowland primary rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest, wooded coastal swamps, and mangroves.

Food and Feeding. The Fawn-footed Mosaic-tailed Rat is considered a herbivore by B. Breed and F. Ford, with a diet composed of leaves, shoots, seeds, and fruit.

Breeding. Reproduction may occur throughout year. Gestation lasts ¢.40 days, and average littersize is three. Young open eyes at ten days and are weaned at 28 days.

Activity patterns. The Fawn-footed Mosaic-tailed Rat is a good climber; it makes nests in trees, using leaves of Pandanus , bananas, or grass.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Males have an exclusive home range, which is defended against intruders.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Fawnfooted Mosaic-tailed Rat has a wide distribution along the east coast of Australia, where it is abundant.

Bibliography. Breed & Ford (2007), Bryant et al. (2011), Fabre, Fitriana et al. (2017), Menzies (1996), Moore & Burnett (2008), Rimmler (1936), Tate (1951), Thomas (1922c), Watts & Baverstock (1994b), Wood (1971).

Gallery Image

248. Long-footed Tree Mouse (Lorentzimys nouhuwysi), 249. Lesser Small-toothed Rat (Macruromys elegans), 250. Greater Small-toothed Rat (Macruromys major), 251. De Vis’s Woolly Rat (Mallomys aroaensis), 252. Alpine Woolly Rat (Mallomys gunung), 253. Subalpine Woolly Rat (Mallomys istapantap), 254. Rothschild’s Woolly Rat (Mallomys rothschildi), 255. Highland Mosaic-tailed Rat (Mammelomys lanosus), 256. Lowland Mosaic-tailed Rat (Mammelomys rattoides), 258. Long-tailed Talaud Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys talaudium), 259. Dusky Seram Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys aerosus), 260. Manusela Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys fraterculus), 262. Obi Island Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys obiensis), 263. Pavel’s Seram Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys paveli), 264. Rossel Island Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys arcium), 265. Bannister’s Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys bannisteri), 266. Fawn-footed Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys cervinipes), 267. Yamdena Island Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys cooperae), 268. Dollman’s Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys dollmani), 269. Snow Mountains Grassland Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys frigicola), 270. Riama Island Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys howi), 271. White-bellied Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys leucogaster), 272. Papua Grassland Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys lutullus), 273. Manus Island Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys matambuai), 274. Black-tailed Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys rufescens), 275. Bougainville Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys bougainville), 276. Grassland Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys burtoni), 277. Cape York Mosaic-tailed Rat (Melomys capensis)

Gallery Image

Distribution. From NE Queensland S to C coastal New South Wales, E Australia, including offshore islands of Dunk, Hinchinbrook, Carlisle, Middle, Fraser, and North Stradbroke.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Muridae

Genus

Melomys