Painted tree-rat

Painted tree-rat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Echimyidae
Genus: Callistomys
Emmons and Vucetich, 1998
Species: C. pictus
Binomial name
Callistomys pictus
(Pictet, 1841)
Synonyms

Isothrix picta Pictet, 1841
Echimys pictus (Pictet, 1841)

The painted tree-rat (Callistomys pictus) is a species of spiny rat from Brazil and is the only species in the genus Callistomys. It appears to lack close relatives and is often placed in the genus Isothrix, or, less regularly, Nelomys.

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 it is known this is caused by fading and does not occur in the living animals.

Similar species

Owing to its striking black-and-white pelage, it is virtually unmistakable, but could perhaps be confused with a hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou spp.) – all of which have spines and lack the distinctive pattern of the painted tree-rat.

Habitat

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

Geographical range

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

Status

The painted tree-rat is currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN because of its fragmented distribution, its continuing decline and the quality of its habitat. An outlying record was not included in the assessment.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Moura, R. & Faria, D. (2008). "Callistomys pictus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
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