Madagascar mountain mouse
| Madagascar mountain mouse | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Monticolomys | ||||||||||||
| Carleton & Goodman , 1996 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Monticolomys koopmani | ||||||||||||
| Carleton & Goodman , 1996 |
The Madagascar mountain mouse ( Monticolomys koopmani ) is a mouse-like rodent species from the subfamily of Madagascar rats (Nesomyinae). The species was only discovered in 1996 and so far only known of five specimens found in the central highlands of Madagascar . The Art epithet honors the American mammalogen Karl F. Koopman (1920–1997).
features
The Madagascar mountain mouse resembles the Madagascar big-footed mice , to which it is likely to be closely related, but differs in its darker fur and significantly smaller ears. Like these, it has enlarged hind legs and a very long tail and is reminiscent of the unrelated gerbils . Their fur is soft and dense, it is dark brown on the top and dark gray on the underside. This is the smallest species of Madagascar rats, it reaches a head body length of 9 to 10 centimeters, a tail length of 12 to 14 centimeters and a weight of 25 to 27 grams.
Habitat and way of life
The five specimens found so far were found in mountain forests at an altitude of 1600 to 2000 meters. From the physique one concludes that the species is a good climber, otherwise nothing is known about the way of life.
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 .
Web links
- Monticolomys koopmani inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: Goodman, S., Raherisehena, M. & Ramiarinjanahary, H., 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2013.