Brown mice

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Brown mice
Scotinomys teguina (left)

Scotinomys teguina (left)

Systematics
Subordination : Mouse relatives (Myomorpha)
Superfamily : Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family : Burrowers (Cricetidae)
Subfamily : Neotominae
Tribe : Baiomyini
Genre : Brown mice
Scientific name
Scotinomys
Thomas , 1913

The brown mice ( Scotinomys ) are a species of rodent living in Central America from the group of the New World mice . It is of two types.

Brown mice are relatively small New World mice, they reach a head body length of 8 to 8.5 centimeters and a tail length of 5 to 7 centimeters. The weight is 12 to 15 grams. The fur is yellowish brown or reddish brown on the upper side, the underside is light brown. The ears, paws and tail are black.

The range of these rodents extends from southern Mexico to western Panama . They prefer rocky terrain, either in savannahs or forests. They are active during the day, for faster progress they lay out trails in the undergrowth. Their diet consists of insects .

The mating can take place all year round, the female can bring her litters at intervals of one month. The gestation period is around 30 days, the litter size one to five (usually two or three). The young are weaned after 18 to 24 days and are sexually mature at 5 to 8 weeks. According to the IUCN, both species are not endangered.

There are two types:

  • Scotinomys teguina is distributed from southern Mexico to western Panama. It is characterized by a short, rough coat.
  • Scotinomys xerampelinus occurs in Costa Rica and Panama. Their fur is longer and softer.

Their closest relatives are the American harvest mice ( Baiomys ), with whom they together form the genus group of Baiomyini within the Neotominae .

Male scotinomys teguina "singing" typical for a female

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c 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 , p. 1355, Google books .
  2. ↑ Degree of endangerment of the two species in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN .
  3. ↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): 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 .