Finger rats
| Finger rats | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amazon finger rat ( Dactylomys dactylinus ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Dactylomys | ||||||||||||
| I. Geoffroy , 1838 |
Finger rats ( Dactylomys ) are a genus of rodents in the family of echimyidae , in the northwest region of South America occurs.
features
Although the species belong to the barbed rats, like the other bamboo rats (Dactylomyinae) they have a soft fur, without bristles or spines. Depending on the species, the upper side is gray with an olive-green or reddish shade or yellow-brown. The underside is covered with white fur. The tail of the Amazon finger-rat is bare except for a tassel at the end, while the Peruvian finger-rat has a bushy tail, mainly at the base. There are four fingers or toes on the hands and feet, the third and fourth of which are wide and long.
The Peruvian finger rat is slightly smaller than the other two species , with a head-to-trunk length of around 250 mm and a tail length of around 360 mm. In these, the head-trunk length is approximately 300 mm and the tail length 400 to 430 mm. A weight of 600 to 700 g was registered for the Amazon finger rat.
Types and distribution
The genus includes the following species:
- The Amazon finger rat ( Dactylomys dactylinus ) lives in northwestern Brazil as well as in neighboring areas of Bolivia , Peru , Ecuador , Colombia and Venezuela .
- The Bolivian finger rat ( Dactylomys boliviensis ) is widespread in the foothills of the Andes in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru.
- The Peruvian finger rat ( Dactylomys peruanus ) is only known from two smaller areas in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia.
Way of life
The genus members stay in dense vegetation in the vicinity of open water. The Peruvian finger rat reaches an altitude of 3,300 meters in the mountains, while the other species can be found up to 1,000 meters. They mostly climb trees and are nocturnal. The day's hiding place is a collection of leaves and lianas. The food mainly consists of the bast of bamboo plants and leaves. The animals usually form smaller groups or pairs. Boop-boop-boop sounds are known from the Amazon finger rat , which are believed to be used to mark territory. A female of this species was pregnant with two offspring.
status
The IUCN lists the Peruvian finger rat with “insufficient data” (data deficient) and the other species as “not endangered” (least concern) .
Reference 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 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 2. 6th edition. 1999, pp. 1698-1699.
- ↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Dactylomys ).
- ↑ a b c Dactylomys in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Accessed December 2, 2017.
