Nesomyidae Author Don E. Wilson Author Russell A. Mittermeier Author Thomas E. Lacher, Jr text 2017 2017-11-30 Lynx Edicions Barcelona Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II 156 203 book chapter http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6600357 978-84-16728-04-6 6600357 13. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat Eliurus petteri French: Rat-loir de Petter / German: Petter-Bilchschwanz / Spanish: Rata de cola de penacho de Petter Other common names: Petters Tuft-tailed Rat Taxonomy. Eliurus petteri Carleton, 1994 , “ 8 km from Fanovana ,” Toamasina Province , Madagascar . This species is monotypic. Distribution. Endemic to C part of E Madagascar (Toamasina Province). Descriptive notes. Head-body 133 mm, tail 191 mm; weight 74 g. There are no more specific measurements for Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat. Dorsum is grayish brown, and venter is crisp white; it is easily recognizable from adults of other species of Eliurus by this distinct color contrast. Distal one-fourth oftail is covered with sparse grayish brown hair, forming small terminal tuft that is white in some individuals. Tarsi are gray, and feet and toes are completely white. Habitat. Eastern humid lowland and montane forest at elevations of 430-1200 m. Food and Feeding. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat is presumed to be largely a granivore and to a lesser extent frugivore and insectivore. Breeding. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat has three pairs of mammae. Activity patterns. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat is presumed to be nocturnal and scansorial. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information. Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red Lust. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat is forest-dwelling and is known from a very restricted area of humid forest in the central-eastern part of Madagascar. Its extent of occurrence is ¢.1500 km*. Given its apparent restricted distribution and continued declines in the natural forest of this region, its mediumand long-term future is uncertain. Bibliography. Carleton (1994, 2003), Goodman et al. (2013), Rakotondraparany & Medard (2005), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011).