Maxomys moi

740.

Indochinese Mountain Spiny Rat

Maxomys moi

French: Maxomys du Vietnam / German: Indochina-Rajah-Ratte / Spanish: Rata espinosa de montana de Indochina

Other common names: Indochinese Mountain Maxomys, Indochinese Spiny Rat, Indochinese Maxomys, Mo's Spiny Rat

Taxonomy. Rattus moi H. C. Robinson & Kloss, 1922,

“Arbre Broyé [= Tram Hanh], Langbian Mountains [= Lam Vien Plateau], South Annam [= Lam Ddng Province, southern Vietnam |, 5400 ft. [= 1646 m].”

Maxomys moi is basal to all other species of Maxomys phylogenetically. Monotypic.

Distribution. S Laos and S Vietnam; possibly further N in Laos.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 142- 208 mm, tail 157-202 mm, ear 22-27 mm, hindfoot 37-44 mm; weight 80-220 g. The Indochinese Mountain Spiny Ratis large, with short, soft, and dense pelage, lacking spines. Dorsum is ocherous orange, most intense along back and lightest on sides, with brown muzzle and brown tinge on head. Venter is white and more sharply demarcated from dorsal pelage than on other species of Maxomys. Feet are white, long, and narrow. Ears are rounded and lighter grayish brown; vibrissae are long and dark. Tail is 95-105% of head—body length and distinctly bicolored, dark blackish brown dorsally and white ventrally. Skull has shallow rostrum and narrow infraorbital foramen. There are four pairs of mammae: one pectoral, one post-axillary, one abdominal, and one inguinal. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 52, FN =74.

Habitat. Highland primary and secondary broad-leafed evergreen forests and shrubby areas, but not disturbed habitats, at elevations of 190-1500 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Indochinese Mountain Spiny Rat is mostly nocturnal and terrestrial, probably nesting in burrows.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Indochinese Mountain Spiny Rat has a small distribution but is considered relatively common. Deforestation in lowland parts ofits distribution is a major threat. Additional research is needed to fully understand its natural history, taxonomy, and threats.

Bibliography. Achmadi et al. (2013), Adler et al. (1999), Bergmans (1995), Correia (2016c), Francis (2008), Musser & Carleton (2005), Musser et al. (1979), Rickart & Musser (1993), Robinson & Kloss (1922), Steppan & Schenk (2017).