Little-footed bush rat
| Little-footed bush rat | ||||||||||||
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Little-footed bush rat ( Neotoma micropus ) |
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| Neotoma micropus | ||||||||||||
| Baird , 1855 |
The small-footed bush rat ( Neotoma micropus ) is a rodent (Rodentia) from the family of the burrowers (Cricetidae) living in North and Central America . The species name is derived from the Greek words μικρός mikrós ("small") and πούς poús ("foot").
features
Small-footed bush rats reach a total length of 310 to 411 millimeters, of which the tail makes up 130 to 175 millimeters. They weigh between 210 to 317 grams for males and 180 to 274 grams for females. Their fur is ash gray to slate gray on the upper side, the underside is lighter in color. The coloring applies to both sex, age and seasons. The name-giving feature are the small feet. The tail is very weakly hairy. The tooth formula is I 1 / 1- C 0 / 0- P 0 / 0- M 3/3.
Similar species
Similar animals from the genus of the American bush rats ( Neotoma ) differ primarily by tending to dark gray, brown or ocher coat colors.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the small-footed bush rats extends through the Great Plains to northeast Mexico . They primarily inhabit rocky and shrubby grasslands and dry, open areas that are dominated by short grass and cactus plants (Cactaceae).
Way of life
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The mostly crepuscular and nocturnal small-footed bush rats live in burrows that are preferably placed under cacti. If these are not available, the dwellings are also built in crevices or under trees. Parasites such as fleas, ticks, mites, lice, roundworms (Nematoda) and protozoa also nest there . The microclimate prevailing in the buildings is essential for crickets, wolf spiders (Lycosidae) and some beetle larvae. In addition, around 40 other invertebrate species occasionally use this habitat. The burrows are also used by lizards, box turtles ( Terrapene ), the gopher snakes (Colubridae), cactus mice ( Peromyscus eremicus ) and deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus ). Wood-decomposing fungi (fungi) are also found in the buildings due to the high moisture content.
The rats usually live as solitary animals and only come together to mate. As a rule, the females have young animals once a year, usually in spring. The litter size differs between the northern and southern populations. In the northern populations the rats have an average of three pups, while in the southern populations they have an average of two pups per litter. Rats in the southern population sometimes have several litters a year. The young are born 30 to 39 days after mating and are considered fully grown after three months.
The diet of the small-footed bush rats consists mainly of leaves, berries, roots and seeds. They cover their fluid requirements by consuming platycladia and fruits. Regionally, the Cylindropuntia imbricata ( Syn .: Opuntia arborescens ), one of the prickly pear cacti, is preferred.
Predators are coyotes ( Canis latrans ), foxes (Vulpini), lynxes ( Lynx ), raccoons ( Procyon lotor ), owls (Strigiformes), hawks ( Accipiter ), racing cuckoos ( Geococcyx ) and snakes (Serpentes). In southern Texas , the lesser-footed bush rat is the predominant diet of the Texas rattlesnake ( Crotalus atrox ), although it is resistant to large amounts of the venom of rattlesnakes. Young animals are sometimes attacked by fire ants ( Solenopsis ). Despite the high number of predators and parasites as well as the relatively low rate of reproduction, the small-footed bush rat is classified by the IUCN as a " Least Concern ".
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g J. K. Braun and MA Mares: Mammalian Species Neotoma micropus , Mammalian Species No. 330, The American Society of Mammalogists, 1989, pp. 1-9
- ^ IUCN Red List
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore / London, 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Web links
- ITIS report - taxonomy