Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat
Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat (Eliurus grandidieri) is a species of rodent from the family Nesomyidae. Morphological evidence suggests that Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat is most closely related to Petter's tufted-tailed rat, E. petteri.[2] However, Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat is the smaller of the two species.
| Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Nesomyidae |
| Genus: | Eliurus |
| Species: | E. grandidieri |
| Binomial name | |
| Eliurus grandidieri Carleton & Goodman, 1998 | |
| 2011 range | |
Distribution and range
Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat is endemic to Madagascar.[1] It normally lives in middle to upper montane forests between the heights of 1,250 and 1,875 m (4,101 and 6,152 ft).[2] It resides in both the Northern Highlands and the northern part of the Central Highlands in eastern Madagascar.[2]
Habitat and ecology
Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat is present in sclerophyllous forest and is presumed to be a partly scansorial species.[1] The species is forest depended and has not been captured outside of forest or in alpine grasslands, though it may occur just below the tree line.[1]
Female Grandidier's tufted-tailed rats are believed to give birth to up to three young.[1]
Conservation status
Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its widely dispersed localities.[1] The population trend of the species, however, is unknown.[1] There is deforestation in the habitat of the Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat for conversion to cultivated land, but there is not enough population loss from this deforestation for the species to be listed as more threatened.[1] There is sufficient evidence that all species from the family Nesomyidae, especially those that commonly live upwards of 800 m (2,600 ft), are susceptible to a 100 percent mortality rate from plagues carried by introduced rodents, and these seem to be localized events.[1] The species is located in three protected areas: the Anjanaharibe-Sud and Manongarivo Special Reserves and the Marojejy National Park.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kennerley, R. (2016). "Eliurus grandidieri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29460A22238512. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T29460A22238512.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 949. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.