The subfamily Nesomyinae is diverse, with 9 known genera (including Brachytarsomys) and endemic to the island of Madagascar. This degree of endemicity is typical of Madagascar. It is unfortunate that so little is known about many of its native species. The forests of Madagascar continue to shrink due to human destruction and every day the diversity of the island is reduced.
Due to its nocturnal and arboreal nature, there have been few observations of white-tailed rat communication behaviors. Like most nocturnal mammals, olfaction is likely to be an important way of sensing the environment.
Communication Channels: acoustic
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
White-tailed rats do not appear to be endangered. The IUCN redlist recognizes them as "least concern." However, continuing human-induced habitat changes may impact populations of white-tailed rats negatively.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
There are no known adverse effects of B. albicauda on humans.
White-tailed rats are hunted by local people who consider them as tasty as lemurs.
Positive Impacts: food
No information on the ecological role of white-tailed rats is available. However, they may play a role in seed dispersal through their frugivorous habits.
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds
White-tailed rats are generally described as frugivorous. According to some, their craniodental characteristics would be better suited for a leaf-eating (folivorous) diet. They have short rostra, broad zygomatic arches, relatively wide incisors and a long row of molars that have ridged masticatory surfaces. When offered an assortment of leaves in captivity, white-tailed rats refused to eat them, preferring only fruit. They may also eat seeds.
Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit
Primary Diet: herbivore (Frugivore )
White-tailed rats, Brachytarsomys albicauda, can be found in eastern Madagascar from Marojejy (northeast) to Andringitra Massif (southeast). This is a long narrow strip of land stretching from north to south which has patches of rainforest. This is considered only the extent of their potential range, due to the rarity of human encounters with these rats. They have been confirmed at various locations in this range but not everywhere in it.
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: island endemic
White-tailed rats have strong, sharp, curved claws. This characteristic and many others indicate a high degree of specialization for arboreal life. that parallels the way it nests in tree holes. They live in tropical forested areas in Madagascar. They nest in tree holes, some have been observed in holes near the base of trees, most have been observed within 2.5 m of the ground.
Range elevation: 450 to 1600 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest
The natural lifespan of B. albicauda is unknown. The lifespan in captivity has not been published.
There are two species in the genus Brachytarsomys , B. albicauda is the smaller of the two. Other than size, B. albicauda is distinguished from its cousin, Brachytarsomys villosa (Hairy-tailed antsangys) by its nearly furless tail. Though smaller than B. villosa, white-tailed rats are up to 50 cm long. They are easily identifiable by the white tip on the tail, which averages 230 mm long. White-tailed rats are covered in a thick coat of brownish-grey fur with a white underside. They have short snouts, giving the face a blunt look.
Range mass: 175 to 285 g.
Average mass: 200-220 g.
Range length: 410 to 500 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
No information on predation of B. albicauda is available. Their nocturnality is an anti-predator adaptation and their brown coloration serves as camouflage.
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Virtually nothing is known about the reproductive ecology of B. albicauda or its cousin B. villosa. However, observations suggest they are monogamous.
Mating System: monogamous
Though there is little information available on the mating behavior of white-tailed rats, it is known that they can have litters of at least 6 in the wild. A female of this species was captured in late October with 6 well-formed embryos. Similarly, individuals held in captivity produced litters of 6 young. Unfortunately no other information about the offspring is reported
Average number of offspring: 6.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
Little is known about parental care in white-tailed rats. Observations suggest males may remain nearby after offspring are born and defend the nest while the female takes care of young.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Male, Female)
The white-tailed antsangy (Brachytarsomys albicauda) is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.[3] It is found only in Madagascar.
The white-tailed antsangy (Brachytarsomys albicauda) is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found only in Madagascar.
Skull
