Long-tailed climbing mice

Long-tailed climbing mice
	Vandeleuria oleracea
Systematics
Superfamily :	Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family :	Long-tailed mice (Muridae)
Subfamily :	Old World Mice (Murinae)
Tribe :	Rattini
	Micromys group
Genre :	Long-tailed climbing mice
Scientific name
	Vandeleuria
	JE Gray , 1842

The long-tailed climbing mice ( Vandeleuria ) are a genus of rodents from the group of old world mice (Murinae). The genus includes three types.

General

They are very small, mouse-like rodents. They reach a head body length of 6 to 9 centimeters, a tail length of 9 to 13 centimeters and a weight of around 10 grams. Their fur color varies on the upper side from light brown to reddish brown, the underside is white or beige. The very long tail is hairy, but unlike related genera, it does not have a bushy tip. The limbs are adapted to the tree life, the first toes of the front and rear legs can be opposed .

Long-tailed climbing mice are native to southern Asia , their range extends from India and Sri Lanka to southern China and Thailand. They are nocturnal tree dwellers and are excellent climbers. The tail serves mainly for balance, but can also be used as a gripping organ. During the day, the animals sleep in a nest that they build in the branches or in tree hollows. Their diet consists of fruits, buds and saplings.

Systematics

According to Wilson & Reeder (2005), the long-tailed climbing mice are part of the Micromys group within the old world mice.

There are three types:

Nilgiri long-tailed climbing mouse ( Vandeleuria nilagirica ) only lives in the Nilgiri region in southwestern India.
Nolthenius long-tailed climbing mouse ( Vandeleuria nolthenii ) is endemic to the central highlands of Sri Lanka.
The Asian long-tailed climbing mouse ( Vandeleuria oleracea ) occurs from western India to southern China and Thailand.

Because of their small circulation area and the dangers of the destruction of their habitat are as nilagirica and V. nolthenii by the IUCN (as "critically endangered" endangered ) listed, V. oleracea is not compromised.

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

Commons : Long-tailed climbing mice ( Vandeleuria ) - Collection of images, videos, and audio files

Vandeleuria on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved October 18, 2009.