Gansu dwarf hamster
| Gansu dwarf hamster | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Cansumys | ||||||||||||
| Allen , 1928 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Cansumys canus | ||||||||||||
| Allen , 1928 |
The Gansu dwarf hamster ( Cansumys canus ) is a largely unknown rodent species from the hamster subfamily (Cricetinae).
The comparatively shaggy fur of this hamster species is colored ice-gray on the upper side and has black speckles, the underside is white-gray and the chest and chin are completely white. The tail is longer than that of closely related genera (the gray and rat-like dwarf hamsters ) and noticeably bushy. A specialty within the hamsters are the conical molars . These animals reach a head body length of 14 centimeters and a tail length of 11 centimeters.
For a long time the species was only known from two animals, an adult female and a young, which were found in the south of the Chinese province of Gansu . More recently, another representative of this type was discovered in Shaanxi Province .
For a long time, the finds were systematically viewed as conspecific with the rat-like dwarf hamster , only detailed investigations in the 1990s came to the conclusion that due to differences in the structure of the skull and teeth, the individual species and genus status is justified.
Nothing is known about the way of life of these animals.
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 .
Web links
- Cansumys canus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006 Posted by: J. Baillie, 1996. Retrieved on 24 11th of 2006.