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 24. Large Short-tailed Rat Brachyuromys ramirohitra French: Grand Ramirohitra / German: Grol3e MadagaskarKurzschwanzratte / Spanish: Rata de cola corta grande Other common names: Greater Short-tailed Rat , Gregarious Short-tailed Rat Taxonomy. Brachyuromys ramirohitra Forsyth Major, 1896 , “ Ampitambe forest , Betsimisaraka country (on the border of N.E. Betsileo), 6 hours S.E. of Fandriana .” This species is monotypic. Distribution. Endemic to E Madagascar. Descriptive notes. Head-body 140-165 mm, tail 84-110 mm; weight 64-117 g. Muzzle of the Large Short-tailed Rat is short. Fur is soft and dense, relatively short, and grayish brown, with some rufous on dorsum and grayish beige on venter. Ears are short, velvety toward tips, and largely hairless toward bases. Dorsum oftail is black, and venter is distinctly lighter, with fine metallic gray sparse fur. Legs are short, and feet are relatively large. Habitat. Eastern humid lowland to montane forest at elevations of 1210-1960 m. Large Short-tailed Rats are widely scattered and have been captured on ground and at openings of tree-root complexes in upper mossy forest. Food and Feeding. The Large Short-tailed Rat is presumed to be herbivorous. Breeding. Female Large Short-tailed Rats have three pairs of mammae and litters of up to two young. Activity patterns. The Large Short-tailed Rat is cathemeral. Individuals have been trapped in early morning and toward dusk, but also at night. They are presumed to live in underground burrow systems. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Large Short-tailed Rat is largely forest-dwelling and is known from less than ten localities in eastern humid forests of Madagascar. It is preyed on by Fosas (Cryptoproctaferox). Given continued declines in forest cover in this region, its mediumand long-term future is uncertain. Bibliography. Bennie et al. (2014), Goodman & Carleton (1996), Goodman, Langrand & Rasolonandrasana (1997), Goodman, Soarimalala et al. (2013), Jansa & Carleton (2003), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011).