Pocket rodents

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Pocket rodents
A pocket rat

A pocket rat

Systematics
Class : Mammals (mammalia)
Subclass : Higher mammals (Eutheria)
Superordinate : Euarchontoglires
Order : Rodents (Rodentia)
Subordination : Beaver relatives (Castorimorpha)
Superfamily : Pocket rodents
Scientific name
Geomyoidea
Bonaparte , 1845

The geomyoidea (Geomyoidea) are regarded as a family lineage within the rodents , the two families living rezent the gophers (Geomyidae) and heteromyidae connect (Heteromyidae) and several fossil taxa together.

features

A common feature of the pocket rodents are two fur pockets on the sides of the head, in which food can be transported. These pockets can be turned inside out for cleaning purposes. Outwardly, the two families have little in common: the pocket rats are reminiscent of moles , the pocket mice partly of mice and partly of jerboa .

Systematics

The pocket rodents, despite their external differences, form a recognized family group ( taxon ) to which the pocket rats (Geomyidae) and pocket mice (Heteromyidae) belong. This group also includes some only fossil-based taxa since the Oligocene , which in the past were directly assigned to the Heteromyidae and are now considered as independent families Eomyidae , Florentiamyidae and Heliscomyidae .

Among the Eomyidae , the gliding species Eomys quercyi, first described in 1996, is best known and is considered to be the oldest form of gliding rodents.

supporting documents

  1. ↑ David J. Hafner: Family Heteromyidae (Pocket mice, kangoroo mice and kangoroo rats). In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (editor): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. (HMW, Volume 6) Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2016, p. 170– 233. ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4 .
  2. ↑ G. Storch , B. Engesser & M. Wuttke : Oldest fossil record of gliding in rodents. Nature 379, Feb. 1, 1996; Pp. 439-441. doi : 10.1038 / 379439a0

literature

  • David J. Hafner: Familiy Heteromyidae (Pocket mice, kangoroo mice and kangoroo rats). In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (editor): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. (HMW, Volume 6) Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2016, p. 170– 233. ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4 .