Makalata didelphoides Desmarest

Makalata didelphoides (Desmarest)

Identification. This arboreal spiny rat has a distinct reddish orange nose and small rounded ears covered by thin hairs. The dorsal pelage is yellowish brown streaked with black, the fur is a mixture of thin bristles and stiff spines with orangish yellow tips; ventral pelage is pale orange with a mixture of gray hairs. The tail is shorter than the head and body length, furred up to 20–30 mm from the base with orange hairs and covered by small light yellow hairs. Hind feet are short and broad, bearing strong claws.

Craniodental characters (Fig. 16) agree with the diagnosis given by Patton et al. (2000). The rostrum is relatively short and broader anteriorly; the interorbital region is broad, convergent anteriorly, and has supraorbital crests that extend onto parietals. The incisive foramen is small and flanked by small ridges that extend to the narrow palate. The mesopterygoid fossa extends to the posterior half of M2. Emmons (1993) reported that tooth-fold pattern varies within and between populations of M. didelphoides. Specimens collected along the mid-Araguaia River have three folds opening labially, isolating four lophs. The second fold on every cheek-teeth entirely connects both labial and lingual sides.

Measurements (n = 16): HB = 150–250, T = 158–235, HF = 31–45, E = 14–20, W = 125–360.

Distribution. This species occurs from north Ecuador to Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guianas and on the eastern Amazon basin of Brazil (Patton et al. 2000, Woods & Kilpatrick 2005).

Natural history. Thirteen individuals (seven males and six females) of M. didelphoides were captured on the ground (n = 11) and in the understory (n = 2) of flooded and upland forests at PEC, and two males and one female were captured in the understory of ipucas at FLV. In July 2007, one female had one near-term embryo.

Vouchers (n = 8: 4ɗ 3Ψ 1 embryo): UFES 1382–1387, 1443 –1444.