Atlantic wood rats
| Atlantic wood rats | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Delomys | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1917 | ||||||||||||
The Atlantic wood rats ( Delomys ) are a species of rodent living in South America from the group of New World mice . They are of three types.
Atlantic forest rats reach a head body length of 10 to 15 centimeters, the tail becomes 9 to 15 centimeters long and the weight is 50 to 90 grams. Their short, dense fur is colored yellow-gray, brown or gray on the upper side, the belly is light gray.
These rodents inhabit forests in southeastern Brazil and northeastern Argentina , where they can be found at altitudes of up to 2,700 meters. They are nocturnal and mainly stay on the ground. They build trails or tunnels in order to move faster in the dense vegetation on the forest floor.
There are three types:
- Delomys collinus lives in mountain forests in Minas Gerais , Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro . It is recognized as an independent species.
- Delomys dorsalis lives in southeastern Brazil (from Minas Gerais to Rio Grande do Sul ) and in northeastern Argentina ( Misiones ).
- Delomys sublineatus iswidespreadfrom Minas Gerais to Santa Catarina .
None of the species is endangered according to the IUCN , but this information is considered out of date.
The systematic position of the Atlantic wood rats is unclear. In the past, they were incorporated into the Thomasomyini as supposed relatives of the Paramo mice , but this should not correspond to the actual parentage. Possibly they form a systematic group together with a few other rodents living mainly in southeastern Brazil, such as the Ruschi rat ( Abrawayaomys ), the Wilfred mouse ( Wilfredomys ), the Rio de Janeiro rat ( Phaenomys ) and Juliomys .
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 .