The Colombian rice rat (''Handleyomys intectus''), also known as the white-footed Handley's mouse is a species of

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are roden ...

in the family

Cricetidae The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. At almost 608 species, it is the second-largest family of mammals, a ...

occurring only in Colombia. It was previously included in ''

Oryzomys ''Oryzomys'' is a genus of semiaquatic rodents in the tribe Oryzomyini living in southern North America and far northern South America. It includes eight species, two of which—the marsh rice rat (''O. palustris'') of the United States ...

'', but closely resembles the dusky montane rat, and accordingly both species were placed in the new genus ''Handleyomys'' in 2002.

Description

This is a medium-sized rat, with adults measuring in head-body length, with a tail of about the same length, and weighing from . The fur is soft and brownish-grey over the most of the body, gradually fading to a grizzled dark grey on the underparts. Unlike its closest relative, the dusky montane rat, the almost-hairless tail has the same dark colour on both upper and lower surfaces, and unlike most other related species, the female has only six teats, instead of eight. It has no

gall bladder In vertebrates, the gallbladder, also known as the cholecyst, is a small hollow organ where bile is stored and concentrated before it is released into the small intestine. In humans, the pear-shaped gallbladder lies beneath the liver, althoug ...

Distribution and habitat

The Colombian rice rat is found only in the

Cordillera Central Central Cordillera refers to the New Guinea Highlands. Cordillera Central, meaning ''central range'' in Spanish, may refer to the following mountain ranges: * Cordillera Central, Andes (disambiguation), several mountain ranges in South America ** ...

in northwestern Colombia, from Antioquia Department in the north to Valle del Cauca Department in the south. It inhabits

cloud forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud ...

s and neighbouring cropland and pasture between elevation, an environment that is typically cold but very humid.

Biology and behaviour

The species is nocturnal and travels on the forest floor rather than climbing trees. Little is known of its biology, but young have been identified in both the dry and rainy seasons.

References

Endemic fauna of Colombia Mammals of Colombia Handleyomys Mammals described in 1921 Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Sigmodontinae-stub