Galápagos rice rats

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Galápagos rice rats
Systematics
Superfamily : Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family : Burrowers (Cricetidae)
Subfamily : Sigmodontinae
Oryzomyalia
Tribe : Oryzomyini
Genre : Galápagos rice rats
Scientific name
Nesoryzomys
Heller , 1904

The Galápagos rice rats ( Nesoryzomys ) are a genus of rodents from the New World mouse group that lives on the Galápagos Islands . They include four species, at least one of which is already extinct. They are closely related to the rice rats ( Orizyomys ) and are sometimes incorporated into this genus.

These animals reach a head body length of 10 to 20 centimeters and a tail length of 8 to 14 centimeters. The fur is black-gray, brownish or reddish in color, depending on the species, the elongated snout is characteristic.

Galápagos rice rats are nocturnal and use crevices or earthworks as shelters. Otherwise, little is known about their way of life. The extinction of most species is believed to be related to the introduction of brown rats and brown rats . The populations on Fernandina Island , where there are no introduced rats, are still present.

There are four types:

  • The Darwin rice rat ( Nesoryzomys darwini ) was found on Santa Cruz and was last seen in 1930. It is considered extinct.
  • Nesoryzomys fernandinae lives on Fernandina. Until the 1990s, it was only by owls gewöllen known, several dead animals were discovered.
  • Nesoryzomys indefessus was native to Santa Cruz (subspecies indefessus ) and Fernandina (subspecies narboroughi ). It was last seen on Santa Cruz in 1934 and is considered extinct, but is still common on Fernandina. The local subspecies is sometimes listed as a separate species ( Nesoryctes narboroughi ).
  • Nesoryzomys swarthi isendemicto San Salvador .

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 .
  • Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): 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 .

Web links