Montane fish-eating rat
species of mammal
The montane fish-eating rat (Neusticomys monticolus) is a species of semiaquatic rodent in the family Cricetidae. It inhabits the Andes Mountains of Colombia and Ecuador.
Description
Montane fish-eating rats are moderately sized rodents, with a head-body length of 10 to 13 centimetres (3.9 to 5.1 in), a tail 8 to 11 centimetres (3.1 to 4.3 in) long, and a body weight averaging 40 grams (1.4 oz). Unlike all other fish-eating rats of the genus Neusticomys, it has dull greyish-black fur, consisting of a thick, velvety underfur and occasional dark guard hairs. The fur is uniform over most of the body, and, unlike in many other rats, remains thick over the tail. However, the toes of all four feet are white, and some individuals have white spots on the upper body, the tip of the tail, or on the chest region. The ears are unusually large for a member of its tribe, and are visible above the thick fur.
Like other ichthyomyine rodents, montane fish-eating rats have feet adapted for swimming in water. However, the adaptations are less extreme in this species than in most others; for example, the feet are narrower, and the fringe of stiff hairs around the toes is less well developed. A short web, not quite reaching the first joint, connects the second and third and the third and fourth toes.
“Montane fish-eating rat” enters the record as species of mammal. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Montane, fish-eating and species can confirm, complicate or overturn.
Why this record matters
“Montane fish-eating rat” is worth following because a concise public description often conceals a longer documentary argument. Here, Montane, fish-eating and species provides the most credible route into that argument.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Nov 18, 2025. The linked authority identifier is Q1770077. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Montane fish-eating rat”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Montane fish-eating rat primary sources, Montane fish-eating rat archive and Montane research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Montane fish-eating rat”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Montane fish-eating rat” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.