Mountain shrew rat
| Mountain shrew rat | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Soricomys montanus | ||||||||||||
| Balete , Rickart , Heaney , Alviola , Duya , Duya , Sosa & Jansa , 2012 |
The mountain shrew rat ( Soricomys montanus ) is a species newly described in 2012 in the family of long-tailed mice (Muridae).
features
After the Kalinga shrew rat ( Soricomys kalinga ) was recognized as a new species in 2006 , similar specimens from the southern areas of the central mountain range on the Philippine island of Luzon were included in this species. Deviating morphological and genetic details suggested a description as an independent species, which was done in 2012.
The mountain shrew rat reaches a total length of 182 to 199 mm, including a tail 87 to 98 mm long. It has hind feet 23 to 25 mm long, ears 13 to 15 mm long and a weight of 23 to 31 g. The fur is predominantly a dark red-brown color. It can be a little lighter on the belly with shorter hair. The head is characterized by a pointed snout, small eyes and small ears. Males have a noticeably large scrotum . There are two pairs of teats in females .
Distribution and way of life
The species is found in mountainous regions of Luzon, which are between 1,950 and 2,690 meters above sea level. It lives in open deciduous forests in the mountains, which have often been changed by humans. The mountain shrew rat avoids coniferous forests and agricultural areas. It is diurnal and feeds on earthworms as well as other invertebrates found in the foliage layer or in the upper parts of the soil.
status
This rodent is quite common. It can adapt to changes in the landscape. The mountain shrew rat is not yet listed in the IUCN Red List .
Reference literature
- Danilo S. Balete, Eric A. Rickart, Lawrence R. Heaney, Phillip A. Alviola, Melizar V. Duya, Mariano Roy M. Duya, Timothy Sosa and Sharon A. Jansa: Archboldomys (Muridae: Murinae) Reconsidered: A New Genus and Three New Species of Shrew Mice from Luzon Island, Philippines. American Museum Novitates 3754, 2012, pp. 1–60 ( [1] )
- Heaney et al. (Ed.): The Mammals of Luzon Island . Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016 (English).