Tuft-tailed barbed rat

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Tuft-tailed barbed rat
Systematics
Partial order : Hystricognathi
without rank: Guinea Pig Relatives (Caviomorpha)
Family : Quill rats (Echimyidae)
Subfamily : Eumysopinae
Genre : Lonchothrix
Type : Tuft-tailed barbed rat
Scientific name of the  genus
Lonchothrix
Thomas , 1920
Scientific name of the  species
Lonchothrix emiliae
Thomas , 1920

The tuft- tailed barbed rat ( Lonchothrix emiliae ) is a rodent in the family of the barbed rats (Echimyidae) and the only species in the genus Lonchothrix .

features

With a head-trunk length of 15.5 to 22 cm and a tail length of 15 to 23 cm, the species is one of the medium-sized representatives of the family. As with the other spiny rats, the fur on the top consists of flattened spines and light brown soft hair. The flexible spines are 26 to 28 mm long, 1.8 to 2.0 mm wide and predominantly gray-brown in color. Several spines have yellow-white tips, which distinguishes the tuft-tailed barbed rat from the Mesomys species, where orange tips are common. The fur on the underside is gray, light brown or white in color. The tail is mostly covered with scales and with short spiky hair. At the tip of the tail there is a tassel with 45 to 70 mm long hair. The bare and brown ears are comparatively small with a length of 13 mm and are often hidden between the spines. A specimen from the state of Bahia weighed 237 g.

distribution

Distribution area of Lonchothrix emiliae

This barbed rat inhabits the Amazon basin in Brazil south of the Amazon . For finds from the east of Peru there is no confirmation that this is the species. Rainforests in the lowlands serve as habitat . The tuft-tailed barbed rat has also been found in gallery forests and on sandy grassy areas.

Way of life

The way of life is largely unexplored. Because of the wide rear feet, this rodent is believed to climb trees. Presumably the species is nocturnal with tree hollows as resting places. Plant remains of unknown origin were found in the stomachs of individual specimens. A female captured in April was pregnant with three embryos .

status

Deforestation is a potential hazard. Since the distribution area is quite large and there is presumably no decline in the population, the tuft-tailed spiny rat 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, Lonchothrix ).
  2. ↑ a b c d Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 2. 6th edition. 1999, pp. 1694-1695, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
  3. ^ A b c Patton, Pardiñas & D'Elía (eds.): Mammals of South America . tape 2 . University of Chicago Press, 2015, ISBN 0-226-28240-6 , pp. 942 (English, Lonchothrix ).
  4. ^ Eisenberg & Redford (Eds.): Mammals of the Neotropics . tape 3 . University of Chicago Press, 2000, ISBN 0-226-19542-2 , pp. 490 (English, Lonchothrix ).
  5. ↑ a b c Lonchothrix emiliae in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.3. Posted by: Patton, J. & Weksler, M., 2008. Retrieved December 12, 2015.