Central Cordillera Brush Mouse

activity

Activity patterns. The Central Cordillera Brush Mouse has not been observed to be active during day or evening, even where locally abundant, suggesting that it is probably strictly nocturnal. It has been trapped on ground and in low shrubs. Its body proportions are those of a skilled climber, and it almost certainly moves between ground and canopy in forest, or forages among shrubs in lower vegetation.

Muridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Recorded from lower and upper montane tropical forests, grading up into subalpine tussock grasslands and shrublands. At Apalu Reke at 2875 m in the Muller Range, Enga Province, the Central Cordillera Brush Mouse is abundant in clusters of low scrub (Podocarpus, Podocarpaceae) within dominant Pandanws — Blechnum (Pandanaceae-Blechnaceae) community of the broad frost hollows, and less common in adjoining upper montane forest. Similar habitat around Lake Aunde at 3325 m on Mount Wilhelm, Western Highlands Province, produced captures in “ long grass, ” “ peaty grassland ” and “ grass near subalpine forest. ” In Upper Sol River valley an individual was taken from crown of a Pandanus palm at 2600 m. Known elevational range is from 1587 m (Sawetau, Muller Range) to 3660 m (Mount Wilhelm), but most records are from above 2500 m.

Muridae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Muridae

breeding

Breeding. Occupation of burrows is probably untenable in waterlogged ground of high-elevation tussock grasslands on Muller Range and Mount Wilhelm; in these localities the Central Cordillera Brush Mouse almost certainly nests off ground in dense shrubs or in crowns of Pandanus palms or tree ferns.

Muridae