Eliurus carletoni Goodman, Raheriarisena & Jansa, 2009 Nesomyidae Don E. Wilson Russell A. Mittermeier Thomas E. Lacher, Jr Goodman, Raheriarisena & Jansa, 2009 Goodman, Raheriarisena & Jansa 2009 [816,1113,1230,1272] Mammalia Nesomyidae Eliurus Animalia Rodentia 3 186 Chordata species carletoni    5.    Carleton’s Tufted-tail Rat    French: Rat-loir de Carleton/ German: Carleton-Bilchschwanz/ Spanish: Rata de cola de penacho de Carleton   Taxonomy. Eliurus carletoni Goodman, Raheriarisena & Jansa, 2009,  “  Madagascar, Province d’Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale d’Ankarana, Campement des Anglais( Anilotra),  7.5 mNW Mahamasina, 12°54.4’S, 49°06.6’E; 125 kmabove sea-level.”  This species is monotypic.    Distribution.Endemic to N Madagascar.   Descriptive notes.Head-body 143-150 mm, tail 164-183 mm; weight 88-89 g. Dorsum typically dark brown, and in some individuals, forehead and face are light brown; venter is completely white or grayish white, with relatively well-demarcated line separating dorsum and venter. Distal onehalf of tail is covered with scattered blackish brown hairs that become progressively thicker toward tip. In some individuals, terminal tuft is white or composed of whorled bands alternating from white to blackish brown. Tarsi, feet, and toes are white.   Habitat.Dry deciduous forest in the extreme northern part of Madagascar, specifically karst areas forming “tsingy” (limestone pinnacles) habitat or on sandy substrates, at elevations of 50-835 m.   Food and Feeding.Presumed to be largely granivorous.   Breeding.Breeding season is probably at the end of the dry season, with young born in late November or December. Carleton’s Tufted-tail Rat has three pairs of mammae.   Activity patterns.Carleton’s Tufted-tail Rat is nocturnal and scansorial. Individuals are captured on the ground and moving across different size arboreal substrates. At least in the Ankarana, it seems to occupy niches within exposed limestone. Carleton’s Tufted-tail Ratis preyed on by Madagascar red owls (7yto soumagnei) and was 49-8% of the biomass consumed by this owl.   Movements, Home range and Social organization.No information.   Status and Conservation.Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Carleton’s Tufted-tail Rat is forest-dwelling and is known from numerous localities in the Malagasy dry deciduous forests in extreme northern part of Madagascar. Its extent of occurrence is 2000 km®. Given its notably restricted distribution and continued declines in natural forests of this region, its mediumand long-term future is uncertain.   Bibliography.Cardiff & Goodman (2008), Goodman, Raheriarisena & Jansa (2009), Goodman, Soarimalala et al. (2013), Rakotoarisoa et al. (2013a, 2013b), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011). 3805028323 Madagascar -12.906667 Reserve Speciale d'Ankarana 129 49.11 Province d'Antsiranana 3 186 1