Typhlomys cinereus, Milne-Edwards, 1877

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Platacanthomyidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 102-107 : 107

3.

Soft-furred Tree Mouse

Typhlomys cinereus

French: Loirpygmée de Chine / German: China-Zwergbilch / Spanish: Raton arboricola de pelaje suave

Other common names: Chinese Pygmy Dormouse, Pygmy Dormouse, Soft-furred Pygmy-dormouse

Taxonomy. 7 Typhlomys cinereus Milne-Edwards, 1877 ,

W. Fujian, China.

Typhlomys cinereus was formerly considered conspecific with 7. chapensis and T. daloushanensis. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

T.c.cinereusMilne-Edwards,1877—SEChina(Anhui,Zhejiang,Jiangxi,andFujian).

T. c. guangxiensis Wang Yingxiang & Chen Zhiping, 1996 — S China (Guangxi).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 71-76 mm, tail 96-102 mm; weight 15-32 g. Braincase is flattened. The Soft-furred Tree Mouse is the second smallest platacanthomyid; dorsal pelage is medium gray; venteris grayish white; ears are large and naked; eyes are small; whiskers are long; long tail is lightly furred near base but densely furred at tip (resembling a bottle brush); and hair at tip of tail is white in some individuals.

Habitat. Tropical and subtropical montane forests above 200 m in elevation, including bamboo stands and mixed-bamboo forests.

Food and Feeding. The Soft-furred Tree Mouse is likely granivorous and frugivorous, but some reports also mention that it eats leaves and stems.

Breeding. Litter sizes appear to be small, with 1-4 young/litter.

Activity patterns. The Soft-furred Tree Mouse is probably nocturnal. Some reports suggest that it might dig burrows, butthis could be speculation based on its reduced eye size.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Other than reports of its presence in certain habitats, the Soft-furred Tree Mouse has never been the focus of ecological research. Like the Chapa Tree Mouse (71. chapensis ), it has been trapped both on low branches in trees and on the ground, suggesting that it is less arboreal than the Malabar Spiny Tree Mouse ( Platacanthomys lasiurus ). Given its close evolutionary relationship with the Chapa Tree Mouse and its similar morphology (including exceptionally small eyes), it is possible that this species also uses ultrasonic echolocation for navigation.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Softfurred Tree Mouse has been regionally listed as least concern. Morphologically distinct and geographically isolated subspecies could be raised to full species status with additional genetic data.

Bibliography. Abramov et al. (2014), Carleton & Musser (1984), Cheng Feng et al. (2017), Cong Haiyan et al. (2013), Corbet & Hill (1992), Lunde & Smith (2008), Musser & Carleton (2005), Osgood (1932), Smith & Yan Xie (2008), Wang Yingxiang et al. (1996).

Figures

Subspecies and Distribution. T.c.cinereusMilne-Edwards,1877—SEChina(Anhui,Zhejiang,Jiangxi,andFujian). T. c. guangxiensis Wang Yingxiang & Chen Zhiping, 1996 — S China (Guangxi).