Clover-tooth giant rat
| Clover-tooth giant rat | ||||||||||||
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Clover-tooth giant rat ( Lenomys meyeri ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Lenomys | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1898 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Lenomys meyeri | ||||||||||||
| ( Jentink , 1879) | ||||||||||||
The giant clover-tooth rat ( Lenomys meyeri ) is a rodent from the group of old world mice (Murinae).
These rodents reach a body length of 24 to 29 centimeters, plus a tail 21 to 29 centimeters long. Their fur is dense and woolly, it is colored olive-gray on the upper side, with the middle of the back often being darker than the flanks. The underside is whitish-beige. The rear part of the sparsely hairy tail is flesh-colored. The name-giving feature are the three conspicuous rows of cusps on the molars .
Giant clover-tooth rats are only found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi , where they are known from the northern and western parts. They are ground dwellers who live in earthworks, but they can also climb trees. Their food consists of green parts of plants.
In some areas these rodents are affected by the destruction of their habitat, but overall the species is not endangered according to the IUCN .
The species is systematically classified within the Old World mice in the Pithecheir group .
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
- Lenomys meyeri onthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Retrieved May 29, 2009.