Animal Info - Rio de Janeiro Rice Rat

(Other Names: Rato-do-Mato-Ferrugíneo, Rio de Janeiro Arboreal Rat, Rio Rice Rat)

Phaenomys ferrugineus

Status: Endangered

1. Profile
2. Tidbits
3. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries Where Currently Found, Population Estimates, History of Distribution, Threats and Reasons for Decline)
4. Data on Biology and Ecology (Size, Habitat, Behavior)
5. References

Profile

The head and body length of the Rio de Janeiro rice rat is about 150 mm (6"), and its tail length is about 190 mm (7.5"). Based on its external characteristics, the Rio de Janeiro rice rat appears to be suited for climbing. The Rio de Janeiro rice rat is known only from the states of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro in eastern Brazil. Its survival is endangered because it occurs in one of the most rapidly developing parts of South America.

Tidbits

*** The Rio de Janeiro rice rat is known from only one specimen collected in the last century.

Status and Trends

IUCN Status:

1994: Endangered
1996 - 2004: Endangered (Criteria: C2a) (IUCN 2004)

Countries Where the Rio de Janeiro Rice Rat Is Currently Found:

2004: Occurs in Brazil (IUCN 2004).

Population Estimates:

[Note: Figures given are for wild populations only.]

WORLD (Brazil)
- 1999: Fewer than 2500 (IUCN, cited in Nowak 1999)

History of Distribution:

The Rio de Janeiro rice rat is known only from the states of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro in eastern Brazil.

Distribution Map (11 Kb) (InfoNatura)

Threats and Reasons for Decline:

The Rio de Janeiro rice rat occurs in one of the most rapidly developing parts of South America.

Data on Biology and Ecology

Size:

The head and body length of the Rio de Janeiro rice rat is about 150 mm (6"), and its tail length is about 190 mm (7.5").

Habitat:

The Brazilian arboreal mouse is found in the Atlantic Forest Biodiversity Hotspot (Cons. Intl. 2005).

Behavior:

Based on its external characteristics, the Rio de Janeiro rice rat appears to be suited for climbing.

References

Burton & Pearson 1987, Cons. Intl. 2005, Emmons & Feer 1997, InfoNatura, IUCN 1994, IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a, IUCN 2004, Nowak 1999, Nowak & Paradiso 1983

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Last modified: March 11, 2005;