Bullimus gamay, Rickart, Heaney & Tabaranza, 2002

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 : 880

802.

Camiguin Forest Rat

Bullimus gamay

French: Bullimus de Camiguin / German: Camiguin-Waldratte / Spanish: Rata de bosque de Camiguin Other common names: Camiguin Bullimus

Taxonomy. Bullimus gamay Rickart, Heaney & Tabaranza, 2002 ,

“Mt. Timpoong, 2 km N, 6:5 km W Mahinog, Camiguin Province, Camiguin Island, Philippines, 1,275 m elev. PIN, 124°43°E”

In their molecular study of the entire Luzon endemics, S. A. Jansa and colleagues in 2006 provided a molecular tree in which B. gamay wassister to B. bagobus . Monotypic.

Distribution. Camiguin I, S Philippines.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 223-244 mm, tail 142-199 mm, ear 23-26 mm, hindfoot 47-54 mm; weight 290-500 g. The Camiguin Forest Rat is the smallest species of Bullimus . It has soft, thick, dark pelage, uniformly dark reddish brown; venter is only slightly paler than dorsum. Skull has inflated braincase, short palate, and incisive foramina. Females have four pairs of mammae. Tail is shorter (61-83%) than head-body length; it ends with white part.

Habitat. Primary montane at elevations of 900-1475 m.

Food and Feeding. Camiguin Forest Rats eat green plant material but might be omnivorous.

Breeding. Female Camiguin Forest Rats have an average of two embryos (range 1-3).

Activity patterns. Camiguin Forest Rats are terrestrial and probably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Camiguin Forest Rat is found only in forests, is never abundant, and faces many conservation threats on Camiguin Island.

Bibliography. Jansa et al. (2006), Rickart, Heaney, Balete & Tabaranza (2011), Rickart, Heaney & Tabaranza (2002).

Figures

Distribution. Camiguin I, S Philippines.