Dark spiny tree-rat

The dark spiny tree-rat (Echimys saturnus) is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae.^[2] It is a rarely encountered and nocturnal species, found in eastern Ecuador and central Peru.^[3][4]

Dark spiny tree-rat
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Echimyidae
Genus:	Echimys
Species:	E. saturnus
Binomial name
Echimys saturnus Thomas, 1928

Compared to Echimys chrysurus, the main diagnostic character state of this Echimys species is the mostly black dorsal part of the head and body. In addition, E. saturnus can be distinguished from Echimys vieirai by possessing a venter spotted with white while it is uniformly grayish brown in the latter species.^[5]

See also

• First records on video of living Echimys saturnus in the Yasuni National Park (Ecuador)^[4]