Cannomys badius
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Spalacidae
Cannomys
Cannomys badius

description: 15.
Lesser Bamboo Rat
Cannomys badius
French: Cannomys / German: Kleine Bambusratte / Spanish: Rata de bambu pequena
Other common names: Bay Bamboo Rat
Taxonomy. Rhizomys badius Hodgson, 1841,
Nepal.
It is the only species in the genus Cannomys, which is sister to Rhizomys. J. R. Ellerman in 1961 recognized castaneus named by E. Blyth in 1843, pater named by O. Thomas in 1915, and plumbescens named by Thomas in 1915 as distinct subspecies on the basis of differences in head— body length and cranial measurements. V. C. Agrawal in 2000 did not recover evidence to support these differences and suggested that they be synonymized. Nevertheless, it seems likely that C. badius will be split into multiple subspecies, or even species, by future studies. Cannomys has no fossil record. Monotypic.
Distribution. E Nepal, Sikkim, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram (NE India), Bhutan, SE Bangladesh, Myanmar, SW Yunnan (SW China), N Laos, NW Vietnam, Thailand, and N Cambodia.
Descriptive notes. Head—body 147-265 mm,tail 47-96 mm; weight 210-800 g. The Lesser Bamboo Rat ranges from reddish cinnamon, red-brown to chestnut-brown, ashy gray, to purple-black. Venter is lighter. One or more white blazes can occur on top of head, and narrow white band can be present on chin. Eyes and ear pinnae are small, body is stocky, and legs are short. Tail is sparsely haired. Forelimbs are equipped with long, powerful claws. Incisors are red to yellow. The Lesser Bamboo Rat differs from species of Rhizomys in having much smaller body size, smooth instead of granular footpads, more protruding incisors, longer rostrum,larger auditory bullae, longer and more prominent sagittal crest, and the first molar largest and third molar smallest. There are eight nipples: 2 pairs of pectoral + 2 pairs of inguinal. A. Tanomtong and colleagues in 2011 demonstrated diploid number of 2n = 50, but other sources report 2n = 60.
Habitat. Most strongly associated with bamboo thickets. The Lesser Bamboo Rat also occurs in grassy areas, montane forests, brush, and gardens, butit is absent in rice paddies. It has been observed from sea level to elevations of 4000 m.
Food and Feeding. The Lesser Bamboo Rat feeds on shoots, roots, and leaves from a variety of plants. It prefers young plants and shoots, particularly bamboo and cereals.
Breeding. One to five naked Lesser Bamboo Rats are born per litter after gestation of 40-43 days. Young are weaned after ¢.8 weeks and are sexually mature after c.1 year.
Activity patterns. The Lesser Bamboo Rat is nocturnal and leaves its burrow to feed. It moves slowly aboveground.It is primarily a chisel-tooth digger but also uses its front claws.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Burrows of Lesser Bamboo Rats can be extensive, reaching lengths of ¢.58 m and depths of ¢.60 cm. Burrows are plugged in the day. Densities can reach 600 ind/ha. Predators include small carnivores.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List and data deficient on the 2016 China Red List. The Lesser Bamboo Rat can be an agricultural pest, especially of tea and rubber, and is hunted for food. Certain populations may be threatened by habitat loss and overhunting. It is known from several protected areas.
Bibliography. Agrawal (2000), Aplin, Lunde et al. (2008), Blyth (1843), Corbet & Hill (1992), Ellerman (1961), Jiang Zhigang et al. (2016), Musser & Carleton (2005), Nevo (1999), Nowak (1999), Smith (2008), Tanomtong et al. (2011), Thomas (1915b).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Spalacidae, pp. 108-142 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 136, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6609100