Ceram nasal bag
| Ceram nasal bag | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Rhynchomeles | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1920 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Rhynchomeles prattorum | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1920 |
The Ceram nasal purse ( Rhynchomeles prattorum ) is a species of marsupial from the group of the New Guinea nasal purse (Peroryctinae). He is on the island of Seram (formerly Ceram) leading to the Moluccas heard endemic , fossil remains were also on Halmahera found another Moluccas island. The species is critically endangered or possibly already extinct.
The fur of these animals is colored chocolate brown, only the chest and forelegs can be whitish. The black tail is almost hairless. The elongated snout and the small, oval ears are striking. Except for the completely spineless coat type is similar to the sting bandicoots . Ceram nasal aspirators reach a head body length of 25 to 33 centimeters, the tail is 11 to 13 centimeters long.
Only seven specimens of the species have been found so far, all in 1920 during an expedition by Felix Pratt and his sons, to whom the species also owes its specific epithet . The finds were made in the dense rainforest at 1,800 meters above sea level, which allows conclusions to be drawn about the habitat. Otherwise nothing is known about the way of life of this animal.
Since no animals have been found since 1920, there is no information about the degree of threat. Some researchers believe that the species is extinct, an expedition in 1991 to search for Ceram nasal sacs was unsuccessful. Others argue that they could still be found in untouched areas, which coincides with conversations with residents of Seram Island who said they had seen the animals. Exact information cannot be given at the moment, the IUCN lists the species under "data deficient" (insufficient data).
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
Web links
- Rhynchomeles prattorum in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group, 1996. Retrieved on 12 May, 2006.