Petter's tufted-tailed rat

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Petter's tufted-tailed rat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Nesomyidae
Genus: Eliurus
Species:
E. petteri
Binomial name
Eliurus petteri
Carleton, 1994

Petter's tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus petteri) is a

fragmentation of its habitat and is listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List
.

With a head and body length of 130 to 136 mm (5.1 to 5.4 in), Eliurus petteri is a moderately large species of Eliurus. Its upperparts are gray-brown to gray and contrast sharply with the white underparts. The tail tuft, a characteristic feature of Eliurus, is weakly developed. The skull is delicate and the

incisive foramina (openings in the front part of the palate) are short and narrow. The incisors
are weak.

Taxonomy

Eliurus petteri was first described in 1994 by American zoologist

Voalavo gymnocaudus than to other species of Eliurus; however, E. petteri has not been studied genetically. Carleton and Goodman reported additional occurrences of E. petteri (though within the same general area) in 2007, and formally recognized the "Eliurus petteri group" (including E. grandidieri and E. petteri) as one of five species groups within the genus.[5]

The common names "Petter's Tuft-tailed Rat"[6] and "Petter's Tufted-tailed Rat"[7] have been used for this species. It is now one of twelve species recognized within Eliurus,[8] the most diverse and widespread genus of the native Malagasy rodents (subfamily Nesomyinae).[9]

Description

Measurements of Eliurus petteri and the related E. grandidieri[10]
Species n Head-body Tail Hindfoot Ear Mass
E. grandidieri 42–60 111–164 144–176 26–31 19–23 44.5–67.5
E. petteri 2 130, 136 178, 185 30, 31[Note 1] 19, 22 74.0 (n = 1)
n: Number of specimens measured (unless otherwise indicated).
All measurements are in millimeters, except body mass in grams.

Eliurus petteri is a fairly large, long-tailed species of Eliurus

pinnae (external ears) are dark and appear naked, but are covered by fine brown fur on the outer and by white hairs on the inner surface. The forefeet are entirely white above, but a narrow dark streak is present on the hindfeet. The skin of the tail is dark, sometimes with some white spots on the lower side. Although the tail appears mostly naked, it is covered with inconspicuous hairs.[11] The tail tuft—characteristic of the genus Eliurus—is weakly developed and consists of light brown to grayish brown hairs along the 25 to 30% of the tail closest to the tip.[2]

The skull looks delicate.

auditory bullae are small. The incisors are weak and the enamel on the upper incisors is yellow to light orange. The root of the lower incisor does not project into a distinct capsular process at the back of the mandible (lower jaw),[11] a feature shared only with E. grandidieri among species of Eliurus.[12]

Distribution and ecology

Eliurus petteri is known only from a limited area in the foothills of eastern Madagascar (

scansorial (climbing in vegetation).[14] It is nocturnal and solitary and may eat fruits, seeds, and insects.[15] The weak incisors suggest to Carleton that it eats more "indurate" fruits and insects than other Eliurus.[16]

Conservation status

Destruction and fragmentation of its habitat are major threats to Eliurus petteri, which is not known to occur in any protected area. Furthermore, it may be vulnerable to plague transmitted by introduced rodents. Accordingly, it is classified as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ Carleton 2003, table 13.43 gives these values, but Carleton 1994, p. 55 gives the hindfoot lengths of the same two specimens as 31.5 and 33.0 mm and Carleton & Goodman 1998, table 11-2 give 33 and 34 mm.

References

  1. ^ a b Kennerley & Goodman 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Carleton 1994, p. 37.
  3. ^ Carleton 1994, p. 39.
  4. ^ a b c Carleton & Goodman 1998, p. 165.
  5. ^ Carleton & Goodman 2007, pp. 1, 17.
  6. ^ Garbutt 2007, p. 231.
  7. ^ Musser & Carleton 2005, p. 950.
  8. ^ Carleton 2007, p. 1; Goodman 2009.
  9. ^ Carleton 2003, p. 1373.
  10. ^ Carleton 2003, table 13.43.
  11. ^ a b c d e Carleton 1994, p. 38.
  12. ^ a b Carleton & Goodman 1998, p. 173.
  13. ^ Carleton 1994, p. 37; Carleton 2003, p. 1378; Carleton 2007, pp. 17, 21; Goodman 2008.
  14. ^ Carleton 1994, p. 39; Goodman 2008.
  15. ^ Goodman, Ganzhorn & Rakotondravony 2003, table 13.4.
  16. ^ Carleton 1994, p. 49.

Literature cited

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