Fat mice

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Fat mice
Systematics
Order : Rodents (Rodentia)
Subordination : Mouse relatives (Myomorpha)
Superfamily : Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family : Nesomyidae
Subfamily : Tree mice (Dendromurinae)
Genre : Fat mice
Scientific name
Steatomys
Peters , 1846

The fat mice ( Steatomys ) are a genus of the tree mice . With the exception of the Central African rainforest areas, they are common in most of the sub-Saharan Africa.

Appearance

Fat mice reach a head-trunk length of 6.5-14.5 cm and a tail length of 3.4-5.9 cm. The dense, short fur varies on top in various brown or sand-colored shades, often mixed with black. The underside is white. The sparsely hairy tail is relatively thick and tapers towards the end. In most species it is brown on the top and white on the underside. Characteristic is the full build and the relatively large, round ears. Most species have four pairs of teats, some more.

Way of life

Fat mice are nocturnal soil animals, they live in deep burrows with a cauldron. This serves as a food store, but also as a nest chamber. The food consists of parts of plants and also insects. Before the beginning of the dry period, the time when there was little food, the fat mice eat a very thick layer of fat. During the dry period, they keep a rest or dry sleep.

species

At least 18 species of this genus were originally described. In the meantime, however, only three species have been recognized. Wilson and Reeder (2005) differentiate between eight species, some of which (in particular S. pratensis and S. parvus ) require revision.

  • Steatomys bocagei  : This particularly large species inhabits wet savannahs and wet forests from central Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The eastern limit of distribution is unclear. It differs from S. pratensis in the four pairs of teats, to which it was previously included.
  • Steatomys caurinus  : Has six or more pairs of teats, inhabits West Africa from Senegal to southern Mali and Ghana to central Nigeria.
  • Steatomys cuppedius  : Found in Senegal, north-central Nigeria, and south-central Niger, distribution area not exactly known.
  • Steatomys jacksoni  : Only known from the area of ​​the type specimen in Ghana. The species may also be found in Togo and southwest Nigeria.
  • Steatomys krebsii  : This relatively small species is characterized by a long tail and narrow hind legs. They can be found in southwestern Angola, Namibia ( Caprivi Strip ), western Zambia, northern Botswana and northeastern South Africa.
  • Steatomys opimus  : Similar to S. bocagei , but has five pairs of teats. It is widespread in the wet savannahs and forest edges of Cameroon through the south of the Central African Republic and the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to southwest Sudan.
  • Steatomys parvus  : Occurs in southern Sudan and in eastern and southern Africa from southern Ethiopia and Somalia through Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to southwestern Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
  • Steatomys pratensis  : The females of this species usually have six or more pairs of teats. Southern and eastern Africa from Angola and northern Namibia eastwards through Botswana, Zimbabwe, northern South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania to Ethiopia.

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

  1. ↑ 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 ( online ).