Painted Tree Rat

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Painted Tree Rat
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Echimyidae
Genus: Echimys
Species: E. pictus
Binomial name
Echimys pictus
(Pictet, 1841)

The Painted Tree Rat (Echimys pictus) is a species of spiny rat from Brazil. It appears to lack close relatives and is often placed in the genus Isothrix, or, less regularly, Nelomys.

Contents

[edit] Identification

With a total length of ca. 30 cm (12 in), it is a relatively large species of spiny rat. It is white with a strongly contrasting glossy-black cap, back and band down towards its forelimbs. Its long fur is dense and coarse, but not spiny, as in some other members of its family. Specimens often have brown (rather than black) markings, but as far as known this is caused by fading and does not occur in the living animals.

[edit] Similar species

Due to its striking black-and-white pelage, it is virtually unmistakable, but could perhaps be confused with a Hairy Dwarf Porcupine (Coendou sp.) - all of which have spines and lack the distinctive pattern of the Painted Tree Rat.

[edit] Habitat

Found in Atlantic forest. Also in cocoa plantations where some native trees remain. As far as known, it is nocturnal.

[edit] Geographical Range

Restricted to north-eastern Bahia (often misquoted as S. Bahia) in eastern Brazil.

[edit] Status

Very poorly known and currently considered Data Deficient by IUCN. Only a few specimens are known; all from a highly restricted area, within which habitat destruction has been significant. An apparently healthy population has recently been discovered.

[edit] References

  • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2006). Echimys pictus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 9 July 2007. Database entry includes justification for why this species is Data Deficient.
  • Neotropical Rainforest Mammals A Field Guide, Second Edition Text by Louise H. Emmons, Illustrations by François Feer
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