Rattus leucopus

• Main Authors: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2017
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Rodentia; Muridae; Rattus; Rattus leucopus; Queensland; Kap; Rata; Buff; Cape York; Kap York; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/6788506; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6788506

719. Cape York Rat Rattus leucopus French: Rat de Cape York / German: Kap-York-Ratte / Spanish: Rata de York Other common names: Mottle-tailed Rat, Mottle-tailed Cape York Rat, Spiny-furred Rat Taxonomy. Acanthomys leucopus Gray, 1867, “North Australia [Queensland]; Cape York.” Rattus leucopus is basal to the rest of the Australian species within Rattus, which are altogether sister to the Recent New Guinea species. Taxonomic revision is needed for R. leucopus and all other species in New Guinea, and R. leucopus might represent multiple species. Five subspecies recognized. Subspecies and Distribution. R.l.leucopusGray,1867—NCapeYork,Queensland, Australia. R.l.cooktownensisTate,1951—SECapeYork,Queensland,Australia. R.l.doboduraeTroughton,1946—SENewGuinea. R. l. ratticolorJentink, 1908 — SW New Guinea, probably including the Aru I. R. l. ingens Peters & Doria, 1880 — SC New Guinea. Descriptive notes. Head-body 135-210 mm,tail 140-210 mm, ear 18-24 mm, hindfoot 33-40 mm; weight 90-205 g. The Cape York Rat is mediumto large-sized and relatively distinctive, with coarseand spiny pelage and grayish or translucent-based yellowish white spines, dark brown to black guard hairs, and light gray underfur dorsally and ventrally. Dorsum is grizzled and ranges from blackish brown (subspecies leucopus, cooktownensis, and dobodurae) to golden yellowish brown (leucopus and cooktownensis), some with more rust (ringens and ratticolor) or yellowish rust (dobodurae) mixed in, and being more yellowish or lighter on sides and neck and having cinnamon brown-tipped hairs. Some specimens have distinctive black eye-ring (only in cooktownensis); venter is white (leucopus), cream (dobodurae, ringens, ratticolor), or gray (cooktownensis), always with buff tinge. Some specimens have reddish brown patch on chest. Juvenile pelage is generally softer and darker, without well-developed spines. Feet are dull white dorsally and unpigmented ventrally; hindfeet are relatively broad. Ears are dull brown and sparsely haired;vibrissae are relatively ...