Isthmus rats

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Isthmus rats
Systematics
Subordination : Mouse relatives (Myomorpha)
Superfamily : Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family : Burrowers (Cricetidae)
Subfamily : Neotominae
Tribe : Reithrodontomyini
Genre : Isthmus rats
Scientific name
Isthmomys
Hooper & Musser , 1964

The isthmus rats ( Isthmomys ) are a genus of rodents from the group of New World mice that lives in Central America . It is of two types.

features

Isthmus rats reach a head body length of 15 to 20 centimeters and a tail length of 16 to 21 centimeters. The fur is colored yellow-brown or red-brown on the upper side, the belly and the feet are white.

distribution and habitat

These rodents are only found in Panama and the extreme northwest of Colombia . They live in mountain forests at an altitude of 800 to 1600 meters. They are predominantly soil dwellers and create trails. They build nests in which they also raise their young. Otherwise little is known about the way of life.

Systematics

The genus Isthmomys is recognized as an independent genus of the burrowers (Cricetidae), where it is classified in the tribe Reithrodontomyini within the subfamily Neotominae . The first scientific description comes from the two zoologists Emmet T. Hooper and Guy Musser , who differentiated it from the white-footed mice ( Peromyscus ) in 1964 . They are closely related to the white-footed mice ( Peromyscus ), as their subgenus they are sometimes listed. The recognizable differences are mainly in the morphology of the penis .

There are two types:

  • Isthmomys flavidus lives in western Panama and has a yellow coat.
  • Isthomys pirrensis occurs in eastern Panama and the adjacent parts of Colombia. This species has a dark or reddish brown fur.

According to the IUCN, both species are not endangered, but this information is out of date.

supporting documents

  1. ↑ Emmet T. Hooper , Guy Musser : Notes on classification of the rodent genus Peromyscus. Occasional Papers Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 635: pp. 1-13.

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