Australian tree rats

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Australian tree rats
Black-footed tree rat (Mesembriomys gouldii)

Black-footed tree rat ( Mesembriomys gouldii )

Systematics
Superfamily : Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family : Long-tailed mice (Muridae)
Subfamily : Old World Mice (Murinae)
Tribe : Hydromyini
Pseudomys group
Genre : Australian tree rats
Scientific name
Mesembriomys
Palmer , 1906

The Australian tree rats ( Mesembriomys ) are a genus of rodents from the group of old world mice (Murinae). They are nocturnal, tree-dwelling animals that are found in two species in western and northern Australia :

The golden-backed tree rat has a head-trunk length of 24 to 35 centimeters, plus a 27 to 39 centimeter long tail. It weighs 430 to 870 grams. Their fur is yellowish-brown on top and whitish on the underside, and their feet are black. The black-footed tree rat is significantly smaller: its head body length is 19 to 24 centimeters, plus a 30 to 36 centimeter tail. It reaches 210 to 330 grams. Their fur is red-brown on top and whitish on the underside, and their feet are black.

The habitat of the tree rats are tree-lined savannas. Here they spend the days in tree hollows, which they pad with leaves. At night they go looking for food. They always have to get back on the ground to get to other trees. The food is nuts and seeds, and insects as complementary foods.

The IUCN lists the gold-backed tree rat as “not endangered” ( least concern ) and the black-footed tree rat as “ near threatened ”.

They are systematically part of the Pseudomys group , a predominantly Australian radiation of old world mice.

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

Commons : Mesembriomys  - collection of images, videos and audio files