Dormouse tails
| Dormouse tails | ||||||||||||
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A dormouse ( Eliurus sp.) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Eliurus | ||||||||||||
| Milne-Edwards , 1885 |
The dormouse tails ( Eliurus ) are a genus of rodents from the subfamily of Madagascar rats (Nesomyinae). The genus includes around twelve species, all of which are endemic to Madagascar .
features
Outwardly, dormouse tails are mice-like animals. Name Imaging feature is the bushy at Bilche reminiscent tails, but in most species the front third of the tail is hairless, resulting in a brush-like impression. Their soft fur is colored gray-brown or yellow-gray on the top, while the underside and limbs are light gray. Dormouse tails reach a head body length of 8 to 18 centimeters, a tail length of 8 to 21 centimeters and a weight of 35 to 100 grams.
Way of life
These animals occur mainly in tropical rainforests up to cloud forests at altitudes of 2000 meters. They are nocturnal and mostly live in trees, but there have been reports of some species that they retreat to earth burrows during the day. Their diet consists of seeds and fruits.
Systematics
The genus of the dormouse was scientifically described by Alphonse Milne-Edwards in 1885 .
A distinction is made between the following types:
- Antsingy dormouse ( Eliurus antsingy Carleton , Goodman & Rakotondravony , 2001 )
- Carleton's dormouse ( Eliurus carletoni Goodman, Raheriarisena & Jansa, 2009 )
- Daniel dormouse ( Eliurus danieli Carleton & Goodman, 2007 )
- Ellerman dormouse ( Eliurus ellermani Carleton, 1994 )
- Grandidier dormouse ( Eliurus grandidieri Carleton & Goodman, 1998 )
- Major dormouse ( Eliurus majori Thomas , 1895 ): The species inhabits highlands in northern and central Madagascar and is listed as threatened by the IUCN .
- Lesser dormouse ( Eliurus minor Forsyth Major , 1896 )
- Western dormouse ( Eliurus myoxinus Milne-Edwards , 1885 )
- Tufted Dormouse ( Eliurus penicillatus Thomas , 1908 ): The species is only known from one location in eastern Madagascar and is considered to be critically endangered.
- Petter's dormouse ( Eliurus petteri Carleton, 1994 )
- Tanala Dormouse ( Eliurus tanala Forsyth Major, 1896 )
- Webb dormouse ( Eliurus webbi Ellerman , 1949 )
supporting documents
- ↑ Eliurus. In: SM Goodman, A. Monadjem: Family Nesomyidae (Pouched Rats, Climbing Mice and Fat Mice) In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (editor): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Rodents 2. (HMW, Volume 7) Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2017, pp. 185-188. ISBN 978-84-16728-04-6 .
literature
- Eliurus. In: SM Goodman, A. Monadjem: Family Nesomyidae (Pouched Rats, Climbing Mice and Fat Mice) In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (editor): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Rodents 2. (HMW, Volume 7) Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2017, pp. 185-188. ISBN 978-84-16728-04-6 .
- 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 .
