Bristle tree prick
| Bristle tree prick | ||||||||||||
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Bristle tree prick ( Chaetomys subspinosus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Chaetomys | ||||||||||||
| JE Gray , 1843 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Chaetomys subspinosus | ||||||||||||
| ( Olfers , 1818) |
The bristle tree prick ( Chaetomys subspinosus ) is a species of rodent from the tree prick family (Erethizontidae) living in South America .
anatomy
The body of the bristle tree prick is covered with bristle-like hair, but they are extremely spiky on the head, neck and front limbs. Their fur is dark brown in color, the feet and the scaly tail are blackish brown. These animals reach a head body length of 38 to 46 centimeters, a tail length of 25 to 28 centimeters and a weight of around 1300 grams.
distribution and habitat
Bristle tree prickers inhabit a small area in southeastern Brazil, they live in the states of Sergipe , Bahia , Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro . Their habitat is forests and bushland near savannahs.
Way of life
Bristle tree prickles are tree dwellers who usually move slowly in the branches. During the day they sleep in tree hollows or holes in the ground in order to look for food at night. Almost a fifth of the night is spent looking for food. Their diet seems to consist entirely of leaves. Almost nothing is known about the reproduction of these animals.
threat
These animals live in a relatively small area, which is also affected by forest clearing. The IUCN lists him as endangered ( vulnerable ).
Systematics
It is controversial whether the bristle tree prick belongs to the tree prickers (Erethizontidae) or to the spiny rats (Echimyidae). Both are American rodent families whose fur is characterized by bristle-like or spiky hair. More recent classifications such as Wilson & Reeder classify it in its own subfamily, Chaetomyinae, within the tree prickers.
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 .
- John F. Eisenberg, Kent H. Redford: Mammals of the Neotropics. The Central Neotropics. The University of Chicago Press, London 1999, ISBN 0-226-19542-2 .
Web links
- Illustration
- Chaetomys subspinosus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Baillie, 1996. Retrieved on 11 May, 2006.
