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Distribution of spiny tree mouse (Platacanthomys lasiurus Blyth, 1859) in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India

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Published/Copyright: November 26, 2009
Mammalia
From the journal Volume 73 Issue 4

Abstract

Spiny tree mouse Platacanthomys lasiurus is a rarely known endemic rodent, one of the two representatives of the rodent family Placanthomyidae. It inhabits the tropical forests of the Western Ghats of South India. A field survey was conducted from February 2002 to June 2005 in the Western Ghats to determine the status and distribution of this species. Intensive surveys were conducted in the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary and the population status was assessed in 17 protected areas and 25 forest divisions using live trapping, questionnaire survey, direct observation and spot lighting. This species was recorded from 10 protected areas and 21 forest ranges, and except for the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary all reports from other sanctuaries, namely the Neyyar, Thattekkad, Idukki, Chinnar, Eravikulam, Chimmony, Parambikulam and Aralam Wildlife Sanctuaries and Periyar Tiger Reserve, were new. This species occur in extremely low densities, and apart from the tropical evergreen forests it was also recorded in the riverine patches in the tropical moist deciduous forests. The status of this species should be elevated from the Least Concern (IUCN) category to the next category, i.e., Near Threatened.

Keywords: India; Kerala; Muroidea; Platacanthomys lasiurus; rodent; Rodentia; tropical forests; Western Ghats
Corresponding author
Published Online: 2009-11-26
Published in Print: 2009-12-01

©2009 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Original Studies
  2. Diversity of Palaearctic chipmunks (Tamias, Sciuridae)
  3. Size variation in the Northern white-breasted hedgehog Erinaceus roumanicus: latitudinal cline and the island rule
  4. Expansion range of the golden jackal in Hungary between 1997 and 2006
  5. Distribution of the hantavirus reservoir Oligoryzomys nigripes in Argentina: choosing spatial models for the actual and potential distribution of the black-footed colilargo
  6. Molecular systematics of the Chinese Myotis (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) inferred from cytochrome-b sequences
  7. Distribution of spiny tree mouse (Platacanthomys lasiurus Blyth, 1859) in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India
  8. Mammals of Mafia Island, Tanzania
  9. Roost selection and home range of an African insectivorous bat Nycteris thebaica (Chiroptera, Nycteridae)
  10. Short Notes
  11. Comfort movements evolve into ritualized displays in the African elephant
  12. Increasing dryness and regression of the geographical range of Temminck's red colobus Procolobus badius temminckii: implications for its conservation
  13. Can bite force be used as a basis for niche separation between native peccaries and introduced feral pigs in the Brazilian Pantanal?
  14. Vocal characters and wing morphology of Rhinolophus marshalli from Tiantang Cave, Guangxi Province, China
  15. Records of crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata, in Sardinia
  16. Book Reviews
  17. Book Reviews
  18. Annual Indices
  19. Contents volume 73 (2009)
  20. Author index volume 73 (2009)
  21. Genus/species index volume 73 (2009)
  22. Subject index volume 73 (2009)
  23. Meeting announcements
  24. Meetings
https://doi.org/10.1515/MAMM.2009.059
Keywords for this article
India; Kerala; Muroidea; Platacanthomys lasiurus; rodent; Rodentia; tropical forests; Western Ghats

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Original Studies
  2. Diversity of Palaearctic chipmunks (Tamias, Sciuridae)
  3. Size variation in the Northern white-breasted hedgehog Erinaceus roumanicus: latitudinal cline and the island rule
  4. Expansion range of the golden jackal in Hungary between 1997 and 2006
  5. Distribution of the hantavirus reservoir Oligoryzomys nigripes in Argentina: choosing spatial models for the actual and potential distribution of the black-footed colilargo
  6. Molecular systematics of the Chinese Myotis (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) inferred from cytochrome-b sequences
  7. Distribution of spiny tree mouse (Platacanthomys lasiurus Blyth, 1859) in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India
  8. Mammals of Mafia Island, Tanzania
  9. Roost selection and home range of an African insectivorous bat Nycteris thebaica (Chiroptera, Nycteridae)
  10. Short Notes
  11. Comfort movements evolve into ritualized displays in the African elephant
  12. Increasing dryness and regression of the geographical range of Temminck's red colobus Procolobus badius temminckii: implications for its conservation
  13. Can bite force be used as a basis for niche separation between native peccaries and introduced feral pigs in the Brazilian Pantanal?
  14. Vocal characters and wing morphology of Rhinolophus marshalli from Tiantang Cave, Guangxi Province, China
  15. Records of crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata, in Sardinia
  16. Book Reviews
  17. Book Reviews
  18. Annual Indices
  19. Contents volume 73 (2009)
  20. Author index volume 73 (2009)
  21. Genus/species index volume 73 (2009)
  22. Subject index volume 73 (2009)
  23. Meeting announcements
  24. Meetings
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