Andean mice
| Andean mice | ||||||||||||
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| Aepeomys | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1898 |
The Andean mice ( Aepeomys ) are a species of rodent living in South America from the group of New World mice . They are of two types.
Andean mice reach a head body length of around 11 centimeters, the tail is 8 to 12 centimeters long. The fur is olive-brown to gray-brown on the upper side, the underside is lighter. The skull is narrow, the muzzle elongated, and on the first finger of the front paw they have a nail instead of a claw. The eyes are relatively small.
These animals live in the Andean regions from Venezuela to Ecuador , where they can be found at altitudes of over 3200 meters. They are likely to be at least partially tree-dwelling and build nests in the trees. Otherwise little is known about their way of life.
There are two types:
- The Merida Andean Mouse ( Aepeomys lugens ) is distributed from western Venezuela to Ecuador.
- Reig's Andean Mouse ( Aepeomys reigi ) was first described in 2001 and lives in a small area in western Venezuela.
Another earlier species, A. fuscatus , is now classified in Handleyomys .
The Andean mice are closely related to the Paramo mice ( Thomasomys ) and are classified in the same tribe, Thomasomyini.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
Web links
- Endangerment level of the individual species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .