Galápagos giant rat

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Galápagos giant rat
Systematics
Family : Burrowers (Cricetidae)
Subfamily : Sigmodontinae
Oryzomyalia
incertae sedis
Genre : Megaoryzomys
Type : Galápagos giant rat
Scientific name of the  genus
Megaoryzomys
Lenglet & Coppois, 1979
Scientific name of the  species
Megaoryzomys curioi
( Niethammer , 1964)

The Galápagos Giant Rat ( Megaoryzomys curioi ) is an extinct rodent from the group of New World mice .

With an estimated head body length of over 20 centimeters, the Galápagos giant rat was a relatively large representative of the New World mice. It was endemic to the Galápagos Islands off the coast of South America , and its fossil remains have been found on the islands of Isabela and Santa Cruz (Galápagos) .

The exact time of the extinction is unclear, it is possible that the species existed until the beginning of the 20th century. The cause of their disappearance was the introduction of domestic cats and rats to their home islands.

Initially, the Galápagos giant rat was considered a close relative of the Caribbean giant rice rats ( Megalomys ), which were similar in body size and are also extinct. The generic name Megaoryzomys ("large rice rat") indicates a close relationship to the rice rats ( Oryzomys ), which, according to recent studies, does not correspond to the facts. A relationship to the Paramo mice ( Thomasomys ) is possible, but uncertain . The species is now classified in the Sigmodontinae , but classified there as incertae sedis .

literature

The information in this article was taken from these sources:

  • 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 .

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