Miniature rice rats
| Miniature rice rats | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Microryzomys | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1917 |
The small rice rats ( Microryzomys ) are a species of rodent living in South America from the group of New World mice . They are of two types.
Small rice rats are very small representatives of the New World mice. They reach a head body length of 6 to 10 centimeters, to which a 9 to 13 centimeter long tail comes. Their soft fur is brownish in color, the underside is lighter, mostly greyish.
These animals live in the Andean regions from Colombia to Bolivia and Peru . They live in moist forests and grasslands at an altitude of 2000 to 4000 meters. They are predominantly soil dwellers and create trails in the grass or moss.
There are two kinds:
- Microryzomys altissimus is native to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It reaches an altitude of 4000 meters and is characterized by a shorter tail.
- Microryzomys minutus is distributed from Venezuela to Bolivia. It has a longer tail and is likely to be found to a greater extent in forests and on trees.
Neither species is endangered according to the IUCN .
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
- Endangerment level of the individual species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .