Peruvian climbing mouse

Peruvian climbing mouse
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Sigmodontinae
Genus:	Rhipidomys
Species:	R. modicus
Binomial name
	Rhipidomys modicus; Thomas, 1926

The Peruvian climbing mouse or lesser Peruvian rhipidomys (Rhipidomys modicus), is a South American species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.[2] It is endemic to the eastern slopes of the Andes in central Peru, where it is found at altitudes from 700 to 1,800 metres (2,300 to 5,900 ft).[1] The species is nocturnal and arboreal, and lives in lower montane forest and cloud forest.[1] It is threatened by forest clearance for agriculture and coca cultivation but is listed as a "least-concern species" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Description

This mouse attains a head-and-body length of between 130 and 165 mm (5.1 and 6.5 in), with a relatively long tail some 135% of the head-and-body length. The fur is coarse and rather short. The general colour is yellowish- to reddish-brown agouti (with banded hairs) which contrasts with dark guard hairs. The underparts are whitish, the hairs having pale to dark grey bases, and there is sometimes an orange patch in the centre of the breast. The tail is mid to dark brown, sparsely covered with hair, and terminates in a moderately-long tuft of hair. The hindfeet are broad and their upper surfaces bear large dark patches that sometimes extend onto the digits.[3]

Status

This species is generally uncommon and is poorly known. Its primary habitat is virgin forest and it is not known whether it can adapt to secondary forest, although one individual was discovered in an old shed. The population trend is probably downward as the forest within its distributional range is being cleared for agricultural use and the production of illegal crops (coca), but its distribution is wide and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern". There are a number of protected areas within its general range but it is not known whether it is present in any of these.[1]

References

Zeballos, H.; Vivar, E. (2016). "Rhipidomys modicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T136210A22375155. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136210A22375155.en. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
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. 1170. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Patton, James L.; Pardiñas, Ulyses F.J.; D'Elía, Guillermo (2015). Mammals of South America, Volume 2: Rodents. University of Chicago Press. p. 609. ISBN 978-0-226-16960-6.

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[iucn-1] Zeballos, H.; Vivar, E. (2016). "Rhipidomys modicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T136210A22375155. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136210A22375155.en. Retrieved 24 December 2019.

[MSW3-2] 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. 1170. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.

[Patton-3] Patton, James L.; Pardiñas, Ulyses F.J.; D'Elía, Guillermo (2015). Mammals of South America, Volume 2: Rodents. University of Chicago Press. p. 609. ISBN 978-0-226-16960-6.