Arizona bush rat

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Arizona bush rat
Systematics
Superfamily : Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family : Burrowers (Cricetidae)
Subfamily : Neotominae
Tribe : Neotomini
Genre : American bush rats ( Neotoma )
Type : Arizona bush rat
Scientific name
Neotoma devia
Goldman , 1927

The Arizona bush rat ( Neotoma devia ) is a rodent in the American bush rat genus .

features

The species reaches a total length of 150 to 230 mm, including a 75 to 140 mm long tail, and a weight of 100 to 199 g. The length of the hind feet is 28 to 41 mm and the ears are 23 to 25 mm long. The fur on the top can be gray to reddish brown in color, while the underside and feet are white. There are hairs on the ears and tail. The species can easily be confused with the desert bush rat ( Neotoma lepida ).

distribution

The Arizona bush rat is mainly found in western Arizona and in adjacent areas of the Mexican state of Sonora . Documented finds come from southern Nevada and southeastern California and occasionally from Colorado and Utah . The species can be found in the lowlands and in mountains up to 2,200 meters in height. The Arizona bush rat lives mainly in the vicinity of the Colorado River in dry areas with isolated bushes.

Way of life

To protect against extreme temperatures and against predators, underground structures are dug under the protection of rocks, cacti (e.g. of the genus Cylindropuntia ). The specimens are nocturnal and presumably crepuscular and do not hibernate. When females are not ready to mate, they live individually and behave aggressively towards other individuals. In females there are up to five litters with up to five offspring each year. The birth takes place after a gestation of 30 to 36 days .

The diet of the Arizona bush rat includes parts of cactus plants, fruits, berries, pine nuts , other seeds and leaves. Succulents that are rich in water are also eaten.

threat

There are no threats to the population. In the same area lives the white-throated bush rat ( Neotoma albigula ), with which the Arizona bush rat presumably competes for nesting sites. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Neotoma devia ).
  2. ↑ a b c d Gerardo Ceballos: Mammals of Mexico . JHU Press, Baltimore 2014, pp. 303 ( Arizona woodrat ).
  3. ↑ a b Neotoma devia in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: Álvarez Castañeda, ST, Castro-Arellano, I. & Lacher, T., 2016. Accessed July 20, 2020th