Apomys
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
Muridae
Apomys
Apomys lubangensis

description: 198. Mindanao Lowland Forest Mouse <i>Apomys lttoralis</i> <b>French:</b> Apomys cétier / <b>German:</b> Kiisten-Philippinenwaldmaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Raton de bosque de tierras bajas de Mindanao <b>Other common names:</b> Mindanao Lowland Apomys <b>Taxonomy.</b> Rattus (Apomys) littoralis Sanborn, 1952, “Bugasan, altitude 50 feet [= 15 m], Cotabato Province, Mindanao Island, Philippine Islands.” Apomys littoralis is a member of subgenus Apomys. Its relationship with A. hylocoetes, the type species of Apomys, was first recognized by D. H.Johnson in 1962. Monotypic. <b>Distribution.</b> Known with certainty only from Mindanao I (Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao provinces), Philippines; populations on Leyte, Biliran, and Bohol Is are tentatively referred to this species. A related population on Negros I is considered to represent an undescribed species. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head-body 100-103 mm, tail 122-126 mm, ear 16-17 mm, hindfoot 26-27 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Species of Apomys are softfurred, small to medium-sized murines with relatively unspecialized body form; distinguished from other Philippine murines by a distinctive suite of features, including long, narrow hindfeet, thinly furred tail, unreduced eyes, relatively large and thinly furred ears, vibrissae on snout very elongate and, folded back, reach to shoulder or beyond, reduction to two mammae on each side, both inguinal, and a simplified molar pattern with cusps united into transverse laminae. Members of subgenus Apomysare small, longtailed, and typically most active in canopy. The Mindanao Lowland Forest Mouse, a medium-sized member of this subgenus, has fur on upperparts, flanks, and outer surfaces of limbs dense and very soft, without spinesor stiff hairs, tawny brown on back and head, paler on flanks; fur on underparts and inside of limbsis mostly gray with white tips, but with some patches of all-white fur on chest; ears relatively short. Upper surfaces offoreand hindfeet “light brown,” which suggests that dark fur of limbs extends onto extremities; hindfeet relatively long and narrow, as in other members of subgenus Apomys, plantar pads relatively small and well separated, digits moderately long and slender,all with sharply pointed claws. Tail is relatively long (120-125% of head-body length), grayish brown above and below for entire length, tail scales conspicuous, with short hairs and no terminal brush. Available crania are damaged, but do not show any exceptional features. A karyotype reported by E. A. Rickart and G. G. Musser in 1993 for a sample from Leyte Island (chromosomal complement 2n = 44, FN = 88) represents an undescribed species. <b>Habitat.</b> Capture localities indicate probable occurrence in evergreen tropical rainforest, including lowland rainforest and montane forest. Elevational range on Mindanao is 15 m to ¢.1400 m. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> No information. <b>Breeding.</b> No information. <b>Activity patterns.</b> No information. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> No information. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Lowland to mid-elevation rainforests on Mindanao Island have been severely impacted by forestry activities, and populations ofthis species are likely to be highly fragmented. <b>Bibliography.</b> Heaney et al. (1998), Johnson (1962), Kennerley (2016g), Musser (1982a), Musser &amp; Carleton (2005), Musser &amp; Heaney (1992), Rickart &amp; Musser (1993), Rickart et al. (1993), Sanborn (1952a). 199. Lubang Forest Mouse <i>Apomys lubangensis</i> <b>French:</b> Apomys de Lubang / <b>German:</b> Lubang-Philippinenwaldmaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Raton de bosque de Lubang <b>Other common names:</b> Lubang Apomys <b>Taxonomy.</b> Apomys lubangensis Heaney el al., 2014, “Philippine Islands: Lubang Is- land, Mindoro Occidental Province: L.ooc Municipality: Barangay Burol: Sitio Bubuy- og, 13°48’N, 120°7-8’E.” Apomys lubangensis, newly collected in 2001, is a member of subgenus Megapomys, and may be most closely related to A. sacobianus, A. banahao, and A. brownorum. On Lubang Island, A. lubangensis was sympatric with a small, as yet unidentified arboreal species of Apomys at 300-425 m. <b>Distribution.</b> Endemic to Lubang I, Philippines, recorded at elevations of 130-425 m on Mt Ambulong. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head—body 143-160 mm, tail 128-154 mm, ear 22-27 mm, hindfoot 38-42 mm; weight 102-128 g. Males average slightly larger than females in all external measurements; no chromatic sexual dimorphism. Species of Apomys are soft-furred, small to medium-sized murines with relatively unspecialized body form; distinguished from other Philippine murines by a distinctive suite of features, including long, narrow hindfeet, thinly furred tail, unreduced eyes, relatively large and thinly furred ears, vibrissae on snout very elongate and, folded back, reach to shoulder or beyond, reduction to two mammae on each side, both inguinal, and a simplified molar pattern with cusps united into transverse laminae. Members of subgenus Megapomys are larger, shorter-tailed active primarily on ground; in most forest habitats across Luzon Island, they are the most abundant terrestrial mammal in any local community. The Lubang Forest Mouse, one of largest Megapomys, has fur on upperparts, flanks, and outer surfaces of limbs dense and very soft, brownish gray with reddish wash, and a “variegated” appearance probably caused by slightly shaggy texture; fur on underparts and inside of limbs grayish white; boundary between colors of upperside and underside abrupt; earslarge, thinly furred. Dark fur of limbs does not extend onto upper surfaces of foreand hindfeet, which are unpigmented and clothed in white hairs; hindfeet relatively elongate, undersurface with dark gray pigmentation except on plantar pads. Tail is relatively long (c.88-95% of head-body length) compared with other Megapomys, sharply bicolored, nearly black above and white below for entire length, tail scales large and prominent, tail hairs relatively short, no terminal brush. Cranium is robust, with broad interorbital region and relatively short, deep, broad rostrum. <b>Habitat.</b> Natural habitat is evergreen tropical rainforest. Lubang Forest Mice have been recorded in “secondary lowland forest with few mature trees on steep terrain” at 130 m, in “mixed second-growth lowland forest” at ¢.180 m, and in “well-developed, regenerating forest” at 300 m and 450 m. These records indicate a degree of tolerance of habitat disturbance, but this is unlikely to extend to occupation offully converted land. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> No information. <b>Breeding.</b> No information. <b>Activity patterns.</b> No information. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> No information. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. The long-term prospects of this species rest on the extent of future forestry activity on Lubang Island. <b>Bibliography.</b> Balete, Heaney &amp; Rickart (2013), Heaney, Balete, Rickart et al. (2011), Heaney, Balete, Veluz et al. (2014), Justiniano et al. (2015). 198. Mindanao Lowland Forest Mouse <i>Apomys lttoralis</i> <b>French:</b> Apomys cétier / <b>German:</b> Kiisten-Philippinenwaldmaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Raton de bosque de tierras bajas de Mindanao <b>Other common names:</b> Mindanao Lowland Apomys <b>Taxonomy.</b> Rattus (Apomys) littoralis Sanborn, 1952, “Bugasan, altitude 50 feet [= 15 m], Cotabato Province, Mindanao Island, Philippine Islands.” Apomys littoralis is a member of subgenus Apomys. Its relationship with A. hylocoetes, the type species of Apomys, was first recognized by D. H.Johnson in 1962. Monotypic. <b>Distribution.</b> Known with certainty only from Mindanao I (Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao provinces), Philippines; populations on Leyte, Biliran, and Bohol Is are tentatively referred to this species. A related population on Negros I is considered to represent an undescribed species. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head-body 100-103 mm, tail 122-126 mm, ear 16-17 mm, hindfoot 26-27 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Species of Apomys are softfurred, small to medium-sized murines with relatively unspecialized body form; distinguished from other Philippine murines by a distinctive suite of features, including long, narrow hindfeet, thinly furred tail, unreduced eyes, relatively large and thinly furred ears, vibrissae on snout very elongate and, folded back, reach to shoulder or beyond, reduction to two mammae on each side, both inguinal, and a simplified molar pattern with cusps united into transverse laminae. Members of subgenus Apomysare small, longtailed, and typically most active in canopy. The Mindanao Lowland Forest Mouse, a medium-sized member of this subgenus, has fur on upperparts, flanks, and outer surfaces of limbs dense and very soft, without spinesor stiff hairs, tawny brown on back and head, paler on flanks; fur on underparts and inside of limbsis mostly gray with white tips, but with some patches of all-white fur on chest; ears relatively short. Upper surfaces offoreand hindfeet “light brown,” which suggests that dark fur of limbs extends onto extremities; hindfeet relatively long and narrow, as in other members of subgenus Apomys, plantar pads relatively small and well separated, digits moderately long and slender,all with sharply pointed claws. Tail is relatively long (120-125% of head-body length), grayish brown above and below for entire length, tail scales conspicuous, with short hairs and no terminal brush. Available crania are damaged, but do not show any exceptional features. A karyotype reported by E. A. Rickart and G. G. Musser in 1993 for a sample from Leyte Island (chromosomal complement 2n = 44, FN = 88) represents an undescribed species. <b>Habitat.</b> Capture localities indicate probable occurrence in evergreen tropical rainforest, including lowland rainforest and montane forest. Elevational range on Mindanao is 15 m to ¢.1400 m. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> No information. <b>Breeding.</b> No information. <b>Activity patterns.</b> No information. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> No information. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Lowland to mid-elevation rainforests on Mindanao Island have been severely impacted by forestry activities, and populations ofthis species are likely to be highly fragmented. <b>Bibliography.</b> Heaney et al. (1998), Johnson (1962), Kennerley (2016g), Musser (1982a), Musser &amp; Carleton (2005), Musser &amp; Heaney (1992), Rickart &amp; Musser (1993), Rickart et al. (1993), Sanborn (1952a). 199. Lubang Forest Mouse <i>Apomys lubangensis</i> <b>French:</b> Apomys de Lubang / <b>German:</b> Lubang-Philippinenwaldmaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Raton de bosque de Lubang <b>Other common names:</b> Lubang Apomys <b>Taxonomy.</b> Apomys lubangensis Heaney el al., 2014, “Philippine Islands: Lubang Is- land, Mindoro Occidental Province: L.ooc Municipality: Barangay Burol: Sitio Bubuy- og, 13°48’N, 120°7-8’E.” Apomys lubangensis, newly collected in 2001, is a member of subgenus Megapomys, and may be most closely related to A. sacobianus, A. banahao, and A. brownorum. On Lubang Island, A. lubangensis was sympatric with a small, as yet unidentified arboreal species of Apomys at 300-425 m. <b>Distribution.</b> Endemic to Lubang I, Philippines, recorded at elevations of 130-425 m on Mt Ambulong. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head—body 143-160 mm, tail 128-154 mm, ear 22-27 mm, hindfoot 38-42 mm; weight 102-128 g. Males average slightly larger than females in all external measurements; no chromatic sexual dimorphism. Species of Apomys are soft-furred, small to medium-sized murines with relatively unspecialized body form; distinguished from other Philippine murines by a distinctive suite of features, including long, narrow hindfeet, thinly furred tail, unreduced eyes, relatively large and thinly furred ears, vibrissae on snout very elongate and, folded back, reach to shoulder or beyond, reduction to two mammae on each side, both inguinal, and a simplified molar pattern with cusps united into transverse laminae. Members of subgenus Megapomys are larger, shorter-tailed active primarily on ground; in most forest habitats across Luzon Island, they are the most abundant terrestrial mammal in any local community. The Lubang Forest Mouse, one of largest Megapomys, has fur on upperparts, flanks, and outer surfaces of limbs dense and very soft, brownish gray with reddish wash, and a “variegated” appearance probably caused by slightly shaggy texture; fur on underparts and inside of limbs grayish white; boundary between colors of upperside and underside abrupt; earslarge, thinly furred. Dark fur of limbs does not extend onto upper surfaces of foreand hindfeet, which are unpigmented and clothed in white hairs; hindfeet relatively elongate, undersurface with dark gray pigmentation except on plantar pads. Tail is relatively long (c.88-95% of head-body length) compared with other Megapomys, sharply bicolored, nearly black above and white below for entire length, tail scales large and prominent, tail hairs relatively short, no terminal brush. Cranium is robust, with broad interorbital region and relatively short, deep, broad rostrum. <b>Habitat.</b> Natural habitat is evergreen tropical rainforest. Lubang Forest Mice have been recorded in “secondary lowland forest with few mature trees on steep terrain” at 130 m, in “mixed second-growth lowland forest” at ¢.180 m, and in “well-developed, regenerating forest” at 300 m and 450 m. These records indicate a degree of tolerance of habitat disturbance, but this is unlikely to extend to occupation offully converted land. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> No information. <b>Breeding.</b> No information. <b>Activity patterns.</b> No information. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> No information. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. The long-term prospects of this species rest on the extent of future forestry activity on Lubang Island. <b>Bibliography.</b> Balete, Heaney &amp; Rickart (2013), Heaney, Balete, Rickart et al. (2011), Heaney, Balete, Veluz et al. (2014), Justiniano et al. (2015). 199. Lubang Forest Mouse <i>Apomys lubangensis</i> <b>French:</b> Apomys de Lubang / <b>German:</b> Lubang-Philippinenwaldmaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Raton de bosque de Lubang <b>Other common names:</b> Lubang Apomys <b>Taxonomy.</b> Apomys lubangensis Heaney el al., 2014, “Philippine Islands: Lubang Is- land, Mindoro Occidental Province: L.ooc Municipality: Barangay Burol: Sitio Bubuy- og, 13°48’N, 120°7-8’E.” Apomys lubangensis, newly collected in 2001, is a member of subgenus Megapomys, and may be most closely related to A. sacobianus, A. banahao, and A. brownorum. On Lubang Island, A. lubangensis was sympatric with a small, as yet unidentified arboreal species of Apomys at 300-425 m. <b>Distribution.</b> Endemic to Lubang I, Philippines, recorded at elevations of 130-425 m on Mt Ambulong. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head—body 143-160 mm, tail 128-154 mm, ear 22-27 mm, hindfoot 38-42 mm; weight 102-128 g. Males average slightly larger than females in all external measurements; no chromatic sexual dimorphism. Species of Apomys are soft-furred, small to medium-sized murines with relatively unspecialized body form; distinguished from other Philippine murines by a distinctive suite of features, including long, narrow hindfeet, thinly furred tail, unreduced eyes, relatively large and thinly furred ears, vibrissae on snout very elongate and, folded back, reach to shoulder or beyond, reduction to two mammae on each side, both inguinal, and a simplified molar pattern with cusps united into transverse laminae. Members of subgenus Megapomys are larger, shorter-tailed active primarily on ground; in most forest habitats across Luzon Island, they are the most abundant terrestrial mammal in any local community. The Lubang Forest Mouse, one of largest Megapomys, has fur on upperparts, flanks, and outer surfaces of limbs dense and very soft, brownish gray with reddish wash, and a “variegated” appearance probably caused by slightly shaggy texture; fur on underparts and inside of limbs grayish white; boundary between colors of upperside and underside abrupt; earslarge, thinly furred. Dark fur of limbs does not extend onto upper surfaces of foreand hindfeet, which are unpigmented and clothed in white hairs; hindfeet relatively elongate, undersurface with dark gray pigmentation except on plantar pads. Tail is relatively long (c.88-95% of head-body length) compared with other Megapomys, sharply bicolored, nearly black above and white below for entire length, tail scales large and prominent, tail hairs relatively short, no terminal brush. Cranium is robust, with broad interorbital region and relatively short, deep, broad rostrum. <b>Habitat.</b> Natural habitat is evergreen tropical rainforest. Lubang Forest Mice have been recorded in “secondary lowland forest with few mature trees on steep terrain” at 130 m, in “mixed second-growth lowland forest” at ¢.180 m, and in “well-developed, regenerating forest” at 300 m and 450 m. These records indicate a degree of tolerance of habitat disturbance, but this is unlikely to extend to occupation offully converted land. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> No information. <b>Breeding.</b> No information. <b>Activity patterns.</b> No information. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> No information. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. The long-term prospects of this species rest on the extent of future forestry activity on Lubang Island. <b>Bibliography.</b> Balete, Heaney &amp; Rickart (2013), Heaney, Balete, Rickart et al. (2011), Heaney, Balete, Veluz et al. (2014), Justiniano et al. (2015).
description: Published as part of <i>Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier &amp; Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Muridae, pp. 536-884 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions</i> on pages 667-668