Malacomys edwardsi, Rochebrune, 1885

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 : 780

publication ID

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

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6816062

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E275-3497-FF26-E19E-25B97F8F800B

treatment provided by

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

scientific name

Malacomys edwardsi
status

 

508. View Plate 49: Muridae

Edwards’s Swamp Rat

Malacomys edwardsi View in CoL

French: Malacomys d'Edwards / German: Edwards-Grofsohr-Sumpfratte / Spanish: Rata de ciénaga de Edwards

Other common names: Edwards's Malacomys

Taxonomy. Malacomys edwards i Rochebrune, 1885 View in CoL ,

“Mellacorée.” Clarified by I. L. Rautenbach and D. A. Schlitter in 1978 as “Melikhoure River, Guinea.”

Previously listed as a subspecies of M. longipes . A recent molecular work confirmed the validity of this species and its geographical distribution. Monotypic.

Distribution. Upper Guinea Forest of W Africa, from Guinea E to SW Nigeria, W of the Niger River. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 126-160 mm, tail 155-180 mm, ear 24-28 mm, hindfoot 31-37 mm; weight 46-80 g. Edwards’s Swamp Rat is a medium-sized, slenderbuilt rodent with long hindfeet, large ears, a very long tail and soft, dense, velvety fur. Fur of adults is rusty brown to warm brown above and whitish gray below, notably on the throat, chest and chin. In juveniles and subadults the fur is smoky gray. Tail is very long (c.130% of head-body length), thin, naked, dark above and pale below. Muzzle is elongated with long vibrissae; eyes are large; ears are elongated, naked and darkly pigmented, as well as mobile. Forefeet and hindfeet whitish and very long, with three central toes. Females have two pairs of nipples. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 48, FN = 52.

Habitat. Primary and secondary rainforests, and cacao plantations and farms on the edge of rainforests, especially on damp soils.

Food and Feeding. Edwards’s Swamp Rat is omnivorous. In Ghana and Nigeria, diet comprises vegetable matter and invertebrates, including earthworms, slugs, grasshoppers, butterfly caterpillars, and adult beetles.

Breeding. In Nigeria, breeding occurs in the dry season and early wet season (November to July). Females have 2-3 embryos.

Activity patterns. Edwards’s Swamp Rats are nocturnal and terrestrial, and can swim.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Edwards’s Swamp Rat constructs saucer-shaped nests from forest leaves,situated under logs or buttress roots oftrees.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Last.

Bibliography. Bohoussou et al. (2015), Cole (1975), Happold (1977 2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Rautenbach & Schlitter (1978), Rosevear (1969), Van der Straeten & Verheyen (1979b).

Gallery Image

507. Cansdale’s Swamp Rat (Malacomys cansdalei), 508. Edwards’s Swamp Rat (Malacomys edwardsi), 509. Alpine Field Mouse (Apodemus alpicola), 511. Striped Field Mouse (Apodemus agrarius), 512. Western Broad-toothed Field Mouse (Apodemus eprmelas), 513. Hyrcanian Field Mouse (Apodemus hyrcanicus), 514. Caucasus Field Mouse (Apodemus ponticus), 515. Herb Field Mouse (Apodemus uralensis), 516. Yellow-necked Field Mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), 517. Eastern Broad-toothed Field Mouse (Apodemus mystacinus), 519. Nepalese Field Mouse (Apodemus gurkha), 521. Kashmir Field Mouse (Apodemus rusiges), 522. Chevrier’s Field Mouse (Apodemus chevrieri), 523. South China Field Mouse (Apodemus draco), 525. Taiwan Field Mouse (Apodemus semotus), 526. Korean Field Mouse (Apodemus peninsulae), 527. Small Japanese Field Mouse (Apodemus argenteus), 529. Okinawa Island Spiny Rat (Tokudaia muenninki), 530. Amami Spiny Rat (Tokudaia osimensis), 531. Tokunoshima Spiny Rat (Tokudaia tokunoshimensis)

Gallery Image

Distribution. Upper Guinea Forest of W Africa, from Guinea E to SW Nigeria, W of the Niger River.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Muridae

Tribe

Vandeleurini

Genus

Malacomys