Mexican volcanic mouse
Mexican volcanic mouse | ||||||||||||
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
Neotomodon | ||||||||||||
Merriam , 1898 | ||||||||||||
Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
Neotomodon alstoni | ||||||||||||
Merrian , 1898 |
The Mexican volcanic mouse ( Neotomodon alstoni ) is a species of rodent from the New World mouse group that lives in Mexico .
These rodents reach a head body length of 10 to 13 centimeters and a tail length of 8 to 11 centimeters. Their weight is usually 40 to 60 grams. Their soft, dense fur is gray-brown, sometimes reddish, on the top and white on the underside. The thickly hairy tail is two-colored, brownish above and white below. The large ears are almost hairless.
Mexican volcanic mice inhabit the volcanic region of central Mexico. Their distribution area extends from Michoacán to Veracruz . Their habitat are forests at an altitude of 2600 to 4300 meters. They are nocturnal, during the day they retreat to earthworks that they have dug themselves or taken over from pocket rats .
Twice or more times a year, the female gives birth to two to five young animals after a gestation period of around 27 days.
The Mexican volcanic mouse was systematically considered a relative of the American bush rats ( Neotoma ) for a long time due to the similar structure of the incisor teeth . Today, however, it is more likely to be placed near the white-footed mice ( Peromyscus ).
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
- Neotomodon alstoni in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006 Posted by: J. Baillie, 1996. Retrieved on 1 August, 2008.