Squirrel tooth rat

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Squirrel tooth rat
Systematics
Family : Long-tailed mice (Muridae)
Subfamily : Old World Mice (Murinae)
Tribe : Hydromyini
Pogonomys group
Genre : Anisomys
Type : Squirrel tooth rat
Scientific name of the  genus
Anisomys
Thomas , 1904
Scientific name of the  species
Anisomys imitator
Thomas, 1904

The squirrel- tooth rat ( Anisomys imitator ) is a rodent from the group of old world mice (Murinae).

Squirrel-tooth rats reach a head body length of 22 to 29 centimeters and a tail length of 29 to 36 centimeters. Their weight is 390 to 580 grams. The short, rough fur is black-gray on the back, the belly is white-gray. The head is black, the arms and legs are gray, and the paws are brown. The long tail is sparsely hairy. These rodents show some peculiarities in the structure of the teeth: the lower incisors are compressed laterally and only half as wide as the upper incisors, the molars are remarkably small.

Squirrel-tooth rats live in New Guinea , they are widespread in the rainforests of the island up to 3500 meters above sea level. Most of the animals were caught on the ground, but the wide feet indicate that they can also climb trees well. The structure of the teeth suggests that the animals feed on hard-shelled nuts.

Although the animals are hunted in some places for their meat and teeth, overall the species is classified as “not endangered” ( least concern ) according to the IUCN . The species is systematically part of the Pogonomys group , a radiation of Old World mice that is mainly native to New Guinea.

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 .

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