Hypogeomys antimena A. Grandidier 1869
Creators: name: Wilson, Don E.
name: Mittermeier, Russell A.
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Nesomyidae
Hypogeomys
Hypogeomys antimena

description: 22. Giant Jumping Rat <i>Hypogeomys antimena</i> <b>French:</b> Vositse géant / <b>German:</b> MadagaskarRiesenratte / <b>Spanish:</b> Rata saltadora gigante <b>Other common names:</b> Malagasy Giant Jumping Rat, Votsovotsa <b>Taxonomy.</b> Hypogeomys antimena A. Grandidier, 1869, “sur les rives du Tsidsibon [= Tsiribihina] et de ’ Andranoumene [= Andranomena], deux rivieres du Ménabé indépendant.” This species is monotypic. <b>Distribution.</b> Restricted to a narrow coastal zone of CW Madagascar (from the Tsiribihina River S to the northern portion of the Menabe Antimena National Park). <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head-body 305-345 mm, tail 215-240 mm; weight 1.1-1.3 kg. The Giant Jumping Rat is the largest extant rodent on Madagascar. It is not sexually dimorphic in pelage color or body measurements. Dorsum has relatively stiff hairs that vary from brownish gray to reddish brown; head fur is slightly darker, and venter is light brown. Subadults are distinctly grayer than adults. Ears are long and pointed, measuring 60 mm. Front limbs are distinctly less developed than long plantigrade hindfeet. <b>Habitat.</b> Dry deciduous forest on sandy substrate at elevations of 40 —100 m. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> The Giant Jumping Rat feeds on fallen fruits of Adansonia spp. (Malvaceae), Commiphora spp. (Burseraceae), Poupartia spp. (Anacardiaceae), Berchemia discolor (Rhamnaceae), and Strychnos spp. (LLoganiaceae), as well as leaves, young shoots, and tubers. <b>Breeding.</b> Birthing of the GiantJumping Rat occurs at the start of the hot-rainy season toward the end of November when food resources are at their yearly high. Litters with 1-2 young are produced per pair, but there are reports of up to three young. Female have two pairs of mammae. Gestation is c.130 days. After birth, young remain in a burrow system for 4-6 weeks. They remain with parents after they nearly reach adult size. Sexual maturity is reached after two years of age. <b>Activity patterns.</b> The Giant Jumping Rat is strictly nocturnal and terrestrial. It spends the day in extensive burrow systems c.5 m in length and at least 1 m deep that it excavates. Multiple entrances to burrow system are often up to 40 cm in diameter and present a distinctive aspect to the forest landscape. When a burrow is abandoned by a pair, it is generally taken over by other pair. The Giant Jumping Rat normally walks on all four limbs, but it can break into kangaroo-like saltatorial hopping. It is preyed on by Fosas (Cryptoprocta ferox). <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> Breeding Giant Jumping Rats live in permanent monogamous pairs, with largely overlapping home ranges. Pairs remain in the same burrow systems over many years and have little overlap in home ranges with neighboring pairs. Mean home range size is 8300 m* and largely equivalent for males and females. Home ranges expand during the dry season and then contract before birthing; pairs with young have smaller home ranges than those without young. Social communication is seemingly complex, and at night, individuals and pairs can be observed tapping the ground with their large hindfeet, often with heads cocked and ears in close position, and emitting variable cries of “brou-brou-brououou” and “kouitsch-kouitsch.” <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The extant population of the Giant Jumping Rat was previously estimated at no more than a few hundred individuals and restricted to a small area of dry deciduous forest in the central Menabe Region. That region has experienced drastic reductions in native forest cover. The Giant Jumping Rat once occupied dry deciduous forests between the Andranomena and Tsiribihina rivers, but its distribution has shrunk considerably. In the past few decades,it has disappeared from Andranomena Reserve, although collapsed burrow systems are still found there. As early as 1961, it was considered to be close to extinction and in need of immediate conservation action. On the basis of subfossil remains, the Giant Jumping Rat had a distinctly broader distribution on Madagascar, specifically further to the south, until the 14™ century (c.1350). It does well in captivity, but little genetic variation remains in natural or captive populations. Given anthropogenic pressures on remaining natural forests, combined with low rates of recruitment of young into the adult breeding population, associated with inferred carnivore (native and introduced) and snake predation, its short-term future is uncertain. <b>Bibliography.</b> Cook et al. (1991), Cowan (2000), Ganzhorn et al. (1996), Goodman &amp; Rakotondravony (1996), Goodman et al. (2013), Hawkins &amp; Racey (2008), Petter (1972a), Petter &amp; Randrianasolo (1961), Rasoloarison et al. (1995), Scharfe &amp; Schlund (1996), Soarimalala &amp; Goodman (2011), Sommer (1997 2000, 2003b), Sommer &amp; Tichy (1999), Sommer, Schwab &amp; Ganzhorn (2002), Sommer, Toto Volahy &amp; Seal (2002), Veal (1992), Young et al. (2008).
description: Published as part of <i>Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier &amp; Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Nesomyidae, pp. 156-203 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions</i> on pages 190-191, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6600357