Agricola's slim-pouch rat
| Agricola's slim-pouch rat | ||||||||||||
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Agricola's slender-pouch rat ( Cryptonanus agricolai ) |
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| Cryptonanus agricolai | ||||||||||||
| ( Moojen , 1943) |
Agricola's slim- pouch rat ( Cryptonanus agricolai ), also known as the Ceara slim- pouch rat , is a species of marsupial that occurs in northeastern and southwestern Brazil. The distribution area includes large parts of the dry caatinga and savanna-like cerrados and is located in the states of Piauí , Ceará , Pernambuco , Sergipe , Tocantins , Bahia , Goiás , Mato Grosso do Sul and Minas Gerais . Probably a complex of different closely related species is currently listed under Cryptonanus agricolai and the actual Agricola's slim-pouch rat has a less extensive range and occurs only in the Caatinga.
description
The animals reach a head trunk length of 7.4 to 9.5 cm, have a 9 to 11.4 cm long tail and reach a weight of about 18 g. The tail is about 20% longer than the head and torso combined. The fur on the back and the top of the head are gray to cinnamon brown. The cheeks are lighter and contrast with narrow, dark circles under the eyes that do not reach the nose and the bases of the ears. The underside is whitish and lighter on the chin and throat than on the chest and stomach. The fur is short. The front and rear feet are also whitish. Females do not have a pouch. The number of teats is unknown.
Habitat and way of life
Agricola's slim-bag rat occurs in open, dry habitats (Caatinga and Cerrado), as well as in the transition zone to the northern Mata Atlântica . The type specimens were caught in a sugar cane field. In the savannah-like cerrados, the animals prefer the open regions over those with dense vegetation. The species lives mainly on the ground. Nothing more is known about nutrition and reproduction.
Danger
The IUCN does not make any of the endangerment levels of Agricola's slim-pouch rat. There are several protected areas in its range, but it is not known whether the animals also occur in the protected areas. Both caatinga and cerrado are increasingly being converted into fields for growing soybeans or pastures for raising cattle.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d Diego Astúa: Family Didelphidae (Opossums). in Don E. Wilson , Russell A. Mittermeier : Handbook of the Mammals of the World - Volume 5. Monotremes and Marsupials. Lynx Editions, 2015, ISBN 978-84-96553-99-6 . Page 169.