Phyllomys nigrispinus
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 nigrispinus

description: 99.
Black-spined Adantic Tree-rat
Phyllomys nigrispinus
French: Rat-épineux a dos noir / German: Schwarzstachel-Kistenbaumratte / Spanish: Rata arboricola atlantica de dorso negro
Taxonomy. Loncheres nigrispina Wagner, 1842,
“Ypanema.” Restricted by L.. H. Emmons and colleagues in 2002 to “Floresta Nacional de Ipanema, 20 km NW Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 23°26’S47°37'W, elev. 550-970 m.”
Phyllomys nigrispinus was formerly classified in the genera Loncheres, Echimys, and Nelomys. Monotypic.
Distribution. SE & S Brazil, in Sao Paulo, Parana, and Santa Catarina states.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 195-262 mm, tail 198-260 mm; weight 250-400 g. Upper part of the Black-spined Atlantic Treerat is reddish brown and streaked with black hairs. Dorsal pelt is spiny, with long (27 mm) and wide (1 mm) aristiforms that are black tipped with thin whip-like tips on rump. Belly varies from buffy white to yellow-gray; hairs have whitish bases. Tail is c.112% of head—body length, nearly naked with some brownish hairs scattered on its surface;tail tip is slightly hairy but not tufted. Skull of the Black-spined Atlantic Tree-rat is narrow and long. It has well-developed supraorbital ridges; interorbital region diverges posteriorly, with inconspicuous or absent post-orbital processes. Zygomatic arch is slenderto slightly robust, with maximum height ranging from one-fourth to one-third ofjugal length; postorbital process rounded or spinose, composed primarily of jugal. Lateral process of supraoccipital is long and reaches ventral level of midline of external auditory meatus. Incisive foramina are oval. Mesopterygoid fossa is wide and forms 60° angle anteriorly, reaching last lamina of M? orfirst lamina of M®. Upper incisors are opisthodont. Upper tooth rows are parallel and wide. Palatal width is equal to or wider than M' width. Angular process ofjaw is not deflected laterally.
Habitat. Coastal evergreen rainforests and inland semideciduous forests from sea level to elevations of ¢.1000 m.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Black-spined Atlantic Tree-rat has lophodont cheekteeth that suggest a folivorous diet.
Breeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Blackspined Atlantic Tree-rat probably nests aboveground, usually in tree hollows.
Activity patterns. There is no specific information available forthis species, but Blackspined Atlantic Tree-rats are nocturnal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Black-spined Atlantic Tree-rat is arboreal and probably solitary.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Black-spined Atlantic Tree-rat occurs in protected areas, and it is locally common in pristine forests. Additional ecological studies of the Black-spined Atlantic Tree-rat are needed.
Bibliography. Emmons (1990, 1997a), Emmons et al. (2002), Moojen (1952b), Leiner & Silva (2012), Leite (2003), Leite & Loss (2015), Loss & Leite (2011), Umetsu et al. (2006), 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 pages 603-604, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6623649