Phyllomys medius

95.

Long-furred Atlantic Tree-rat

Phyllomys medius

French: Rat-épineux a long poil / German: Langhaar-Kistenbaumratte / Spanish: Rata arboricola atlantica de pelo largo

Taxonomy. Loncheres medius Thomas, 1909,

“Roca Nova Serro [sic] do Mar, Parana, S[outhern]. Brazil. Alt. 1000 m.” Restricted by L. H. Emmons and colleagues in 2002 to “Roca Nova, Serra do Mar, Parana, Brazil 25°28’S 49°01’W, elevation 1000 m.”

Phyllomys medius was formerly classified in the genera Echimys and Nelomys. Monotypic.

Distribution. SE & S Brazil, from Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro states, through Sao Paulo, Parana, and Santa Catarina to Rio Grande do Sulstates.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 220-230 mm,tail 225-260 mm; weight 248-386 g. The Long-furred Atlantic Tree-rat is medium-sized and has dark brown upper parts, with darker mid-dorsum. Aristiforms on rump have thin, black, whip like tips and are very long (36 mm) and thin (0-4 mm). Dorsal pelt is soft and stiff. Ventral hairs are bicolored, with gray bases and fulvous distal ends. Tail is furred to tip and c.115% of head-body length. Skull of the Long-furred Atlantic Tree-rat is long and robust; interorbital region has well-developed and parallel to slighly posteriorly divergent supraorbital ridges, with absent or reduced post-orbital processes. Zygomatic arch is robust, with maximum height higher than or equal to one-third of jugal length. Spinose post-orbital process is present and mainly formed by jugal. Lateral process of supraoccipital is short and extends to level of midline of external auditory meatus. Incisive foramina are distinctive, with small teardrop shape openings. Mesopterygoid fossa is narrow and forms angle more than 45° anteriorly, reaching posterior lamina of M*. Upper incisors are opisthodont. Molar teeth are narrow, with palatal width equal to width of M'. Upper tooth rows are nearly parallel. Angular process ofjaw is not deflected laterally.

Habitat. Broadleaf evergreen coastal forests and in mixed evergreen araucaria (Araucariaceae) forests inland in Parana State from near sea level in the south part of the distribution to ¢.1000 m in the north. Distribution of the Long-furred Atlantic Tree-rat suggests preference for cooler climates.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but Long-furred Atlantic Tree-rat has lophodont cheekteeth that suggest a folivorous diet.

Breeding. A pregnant Long-furred Atlantic Tree-rat carrying two embryos was caught in September at Teresopolis, Rio de Janeiro, south-eastern Brazil. It probably nests aboveground, in tree hollows.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but Longfurred Atlantic tree-rats are probably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Long-furred Atlantic tree-rat is arboreal and probably solitary.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Forest habitat where the Long-furred Atlantic tree-rat occurs is highly fragmented and reduced, but its distribution is large and it may be locally common. Additional ecological studies of the Long-furred Atlantic Tree-rat are needed.

Bibliography. Davis (1945b), Emmons (1990, 1997a), Emmons et al. (2002), Leite (2003), Leite & Loss (2015), Loss & Leite (2011), Thomas (1909a), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).