Lophuromys luteogaster Hatt 1934

38.

Buff-bellied Brush-furred Rat

Lophuromys luteogaster

French: Rat-hérissé a ventre fauve / German: Gelbbauch-Biirstenhaarmaus / Spanish: Rata de pelaje de cepillo de vientre pulido

Other common names: Yellow-bellied Brush-furred Rat

Taxonomy. Lophuromys luteogaster Hatt, 1934,

“Medje, Ituri district, Belgian Congo [= DR Congo].”

Lophuromys luteogaster was classified in the woosnami — luteogaster species complex and included in subgenus Kivumys along with L. medicaudus and L. woosnami based on distinct stomach morphology. Tail greater than 85% of head-body length is diagnostic for subgenus Kivumys. Monotypic.

Distribution. NE DR Congo; distributional limits unknown.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 90-113 mm, tail 90-117 mm, ear 16—19 mm, hindfoot 19-23 mm; weight 28-41 g. Dorsum of the Buff-bellied Brush-furred Ratis brown-olive and unspeckled, and venter is uniform pink-cinnamon to buff. Tailis relatively long, c.100% of head-body length. There are three pairs of mammae.

Habitat. [Lowland primary and secondary rainforest with dominant trees of Gilbertiodendron, Julbernardia, and Cynometra (all Fabaceae) at elevations of 700-1100 m.

Food and Feeding. The Buff-bellied Brush-furred Rat is insectivorous, and 90-100% of stomach contents had grubs, caterpillars, small snails, beetles, and termites.

Breeding. Little is known because of rarity of captures, which have only occurred during dry seasons when some female Buff-bellied Brush-furred Rats were pregnant, each carrying two embryos.

Activity patterns. The Buff-bellied Brush-furred Ratis terrestrial and probably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Buffbellied Brush-furred Rat occurs in various habitats of lowland forests.

Bibliography. Dieterlen (1975, 1976b, 1987 20139), Geider & Kock (1991), Hatt (1934), Monadjem et al. (2015), Schlitter & Robbins (1977), Verheyen et al. (1996), Verschuren et al. (1983).