Phyllomys brasiliensis Lund 1840
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Echimyidae
Phyllomys
Phyllomys brasiliensis

description: 88.
Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rat
Phyllomys brasiliensis
French: Rat-épineux du Brésil / German: Brasilien-Kistenbaumratte / Spanish: Rata arboricola atlantica de Brasil
Other common names: Orange-brown Atlantic Tree-rat
Taxonomy. Phyllomys brasiliensis Lund, 1840,
“Lapa das Quatro Bocas,” Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Phyllomys brasiliensis was formerly classified in the genera Loncheres and Echimys. The name P. brasiliensis was incorrectly applied to several museum specimens that were later formally described and named as P. pattoni. Phyllomys brasiliensis is closely related to P. lamarum; divergence of these two species is a relatively recent event. Monotypic.
Distribution. SE Brazil, Paraopeba and das Velhas rivers in Minas Gerais State.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 210-212 mm, tail 171 mm; weight 240 g. The Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rat is medium-sized; it has a spiny dorsal pelt, orange-brown and sprinkled with black. Rump is spiny, with wide (1-3 mm) and long (27 mm) aristiform hairs that have orange whip-like tips. Venter is creamy and yellowish, with cream-white axillary and inguinal regions; some white-based hairs are present on midline. Tail is ¢.81% of head-body length. Tail is furred with short brown hairs, but tail scales are visible, except at tip where hairs are longer. Skull of the Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rat has well-developed and beaded supraorbital ridges; interorbital region slightly divergent posteriorly, with slightly developed post-orbital processes. Zygomatic arch is slender or slightly robust, with maximum height equal or inferior to jugal length. Spinose process of zygoma without squamosal contribution. Lateral process of supraoccipital is long and extends below horizontal midline of external auditory meatus. Incisive foramina are oval. Mesopterygoid fossa forms 60° angle anteriorly, reaching posterior lamina of second upper molar. Upper incisors are orthodont. Upper tooth rows are parallel, only slightly diverging posteriorly in old individuals. Molar teeth are long and narrow, with palatal width equals width offirst upper molar. Angular process ofjaw is deflected laterally, and ventral spine is present posterior to junction of mandibular rami.
Habitat. Mixed habitats of semideciduous forest and woodland savanna (cerrado) in Atlantic Forest at elevations of 500-800 m. The Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rat has limited distribution in Atlantic Forest.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rat has lophodont cheekteeth that suggest folivorous diet.
Breeding. A pregnant Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rat carrying one embryo was caught in September at Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rat probably nests aboveground, usually in tree hollows.
Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rats are nocturnal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rat is arboreal and probably solitary.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Extent of occurrence of the Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rat is less than 5000 km?. It is known from only three localities in Minas Gerais State. Fragmentation is ongoing, dramatically reducing quality and availability ofits habitat. Additional ecological studies ofthis Brazilian Atlantic Tree-rat are needed.
Bibliography. Emmons (1990, 1997a), Emmons et al. (2002), Leite (2003), Leite & Loss (2015), Loss & Leite (2011), Patton et al. (2015), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Echimyidae, pp. 552-604 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 598, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6623649