Topic
Cloud rat
About: Cloud rat is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4 publications have been published within this topic receiving 7 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: All three occurred contemporaneously with Homo luzonensis, and two, the new Carpomys and Crateromys, persisted until the Late Holocene when multiple exotic mammal species were introduced to Luzon, and new cultural practices became evident, suggesting that modern humans played a role in their extinction.
Abstract: The 18 extant members of the Tribe Phloeomyini, the “cloud rats,” constitute an endemic Philippine radiation of arboreal herbivores that range in size from ca. 18 g to 2.7 kg, most occurring in cloud forest above 1,200 m elevation. Although calibrated phylogenies indicate that the Phloeomyini is estimated to have begun diversifying within the Philippines by ca. 10–11 million years ago, no extinct fossil species have been described, severely limiting our understanding of this distinctive radiation. Our studies of fossil and subfossil small mammal assemblages from the lowland Callao Caves complex in NE Luzon, Philippines, have produced specimens of Phloeomyini that date from ca. 67,000 BP to the Late Holocene (ca. 4,000 to 2,000 BP). We identify three extinct species that we name as new members assigned to the genera Batomys, Carpomys, and Crateromys, distinguished from congeners by body size, distinctive dental and other morphological features, and occupancy of a habitat (lowland forest over limestone) that differs from the high-elevation mossy forest over volcanic soils occupied by their congeners. Batomys cagayanensis n. sp. is known only from two specimens from ca. 67,000 BP; Carpomys dakal n. sp. and Crateromys ballik n. sp. were present from ca. 67,000 BP to the Late Holocene. These add to the species richness and morphological diversity of this endemic Philippine radiation of large folivores, and show specifically that the lowland fauna of small mammals on Luzon was more diverse in the recent past than it is currently, and that Luzon recently supported five species of giant rodents (ca. 1 kg or more). All three occurred contemporaneously with Homo luzonensis, and two, the new Carpomys and Crateromys, persisted until the Late Holocene when multiple exotic mammal species, both domestic and invasive, were introduced to Luzon, and new cultural practices (such as making pottery) became evident, suggesting that modern humans played a role in their extinction.
49 citations
TL;DR: The Dinagat Bushy-tailed Cloud Rat Crateromys australis belongs to the group of Cloud Rats, arboreal and folivorous nocturnal rodents endemic to the forests of the Philippines as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Dinagat Bushy-tailed Cloud Rat Crateromys australis belongs to the group of Cloud Rats, arboreal and folivorous nocturnal rodents endemic to the forests of the Philippines. The species, endemic to a small island Dinagat in the Philippines, was discovered and captured in 1975. Since then, despite repeated surveys, no specimen was found until 2012. It is listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN Red List and was even believed to be extinct. Finally, Dinagat Bushy-tailed Cloud Rat was rediscovered in January 2012 and its presence confirmed on Dinagat Island. The rediscovery of this species underlines the local, national and international importance of Dinagat Island (or Dinagat-Siargao cluster of islands), as the most distinct subcentre of species endemism within the Greater Mindanao Faunal Region. Unfortunately, only one locally protected area exists on the whole island and none of the last remaining native forest habitats on Dinagat are currently protected at the national level. Mining and habitat destruction constitute a serious threat to this species. We believe that this rediscovery may provide some important and timely impetus and urgency to the need for a more rational, scientifically-based and island-wide, development program on Dinagat by also incorporating an island/region-wide biodiversity conservation strategy that would help ensure the effective, longer-term protection of the larger majority of the few remaining natural habitats in this region.
3 citations
TL;DR: The aim of this study was to gather preliminary data with a view to developing an ethogram for Panay Island bushy-tailed cloud rats based on a captive population house at ZSL London Zoo.
Abstract: Panay Island bushy-tailed cloud rats Crateromys heaneyi are nocturnal, arboreal, probably herbivorous Philippinerodents. Apart from limited morphological data, there is very little reported information about them. The aim of thisstudy was to gather preliminary data with a view to developing an ethogram for these taxa, based on a captivepopulation house at ZSL London Zoo. Cloud rats are probably not social rodents and are likely to live in pairs orsolitarily in the wild when not raising offspring. They are intolerant of intruders in their territory and will fight to thedeath when stressed. They spend the majority of their time resting, climbing and feeding. Cloud rats are fastidious intheir habits; defecating and urinating away from their nest boxes and food at a particular constant site and cleaningthemselves methodically after every meal. There are significant gaps in our knowledge of these mammals, which arelisted as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
2 citations
1 Jan 1998
TL;DR: A 10-day wildlife inventory was conducted in Barangay [village] San Salvador and Malabanan, Lipa City, Batangas as discussed by the authors using direct and indirect means of observations a diverse assemblage of wildlife vertebrates comprised of 73 species of birds, 14 species of mammals, seven species of reptiles and seven amphibians, was recorded.
Abstract: A 10-day wildlife inventory was conducted in Barangay [village] San Salvador and Malabanan, Lipa City, Batangas. Using direct and indirect means of observations a diverse assemblage of wildlife vertebrates comprised of 73 species of birds, 14 species of mammals, seven species of reptiles and seven species of amphibians, was recorded. All in all, a total of two species and 59 subspecies are endemic to the country, five species are indigenous, six are migratory, while only one species is an introduced species. One species of bird Ceyx melanurus (Philippine Kingfish) is vulnerable, while two species, Turnix ocellata (Spotted Button quail) and Ptilinopus merrili (Merril's Fruit Dove) are near threathened. Three endemic species of mammals were recorded: Ptenochirus jagorii (Musky fruit bat), Haplonycteris fisheri (Philippine pygmy fruit bat) and Phloemys sp. (Luzon giant cloud rat). The Philippine pygmy fruit bat is classified as vulnerable. From the assemblage of herpetofauna, only three species of amphibians are endemic: Rana magna (Philippine Woodland Frog), Kaloula picta (Slender-digit Narrow-mouthed Frog), and Rana signata (Variable-backed Frog). Three more species were also reported to be formerly present in the study areas but have been hunted to extinction. These are the Red junglefowl (Gallus gallus philippinensis), the deer (Cervus sp.) and the wild boar (Sus sp.)
1 citations
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Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |