Mosaic tail rats
| Mosaic tail rats | ||||||||||||
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Melomys cervinipes |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Melomys | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1922 |
The mosaic tail rats ( Melomys ) are a genus of rodents from the group of old world mice (Murinae). The genus includes 23 species.
features
Mosaic tail rats reach a head body length of 9 to 18 centimeters, in addition there is a 11 to 20 centimeter long tail. Their weight varies between 30 and 200 grams. Their fur is soft and woolly, it is usually brown or reddish brown in color on the upper side, the underside is white or beige. The name-giving feature is the hairless tail, the scales of which have the shape of a mosaic. This mosaic shape differs significantly from the small scales that rats have.
Distribution and way of life
Mosaic tail rats are distributed from eastern Indonesia through New Guinea to Australia . Most species are found in forests, but there are also some animals living in grasslands. They are mostly soil dwellers, but can climb well. Sometimes they build their nests in the branches, but more often in the roots or in hollow tree trunks. They retreat there during the day, they are nocturnal. The diet of these animals consists of fruits, berries and other plant material.
Danger
The high number of island endings means a high number of endangered species. A number of species are listed by the IUCN as critically endangered , endangered or vulnerable . Precise data are lacking for some other species. Only 9 of the 23 species are not endangered according to the IUCN - see the list below for details.
The species
23 species are known (according to Wilson & Reeder, 2005):
- Melomys aerosus lives on Seram and is considered endangered.
- Melomys arcium is endemic to Rossel , an island off the southeast coast of New Guinea. Their degree of risk is unknown.
- Melomys bannisteri is found on the Kei Islands and is also endangered.
- Melomys bougainville inhabits the island of Bougainville . Their degree of risk is unknown.
- The grassland melomys ( Melomys burtoni ) lives in grasslands in northern and eastern Australia as well as in southern New Guinea.
- Melomys capensis isnativeto the tip of Australia's Cape York Peninsula .
- Melomys caurinus lives in the Talaud Islands and is considered endangered.
- The Melomys cervinipes lives in eastern Australia.
- Melomys cooperae isendemicto Yamdena and its degree of endangerment is unknown.
- Melomys dollmani lives in eastern New Guinea.
- Melomys fraterculus occurs only on Seram. The species is threatened with extinction.
- Melomys frigicola lives in mountainous countries in western New Guinea.
- Melomys fulgens is only known from two specimens found on Seram. Their degree of risk is unknown.
- Melomys howi is endemic to Riama, one of the Tanimbar Islands . Their degree of risk is unknown.
- Melomys leucogaster occurs in New Guinea.
- Melomys lutillus lives in grasslands in New Guinea.
- Melomys matambuai isendemicto the island of Manus and is critically endangered.
- Melomys obiensis inhabits the Obi Islands .
- Melomys paveli is known from only one place on Seram. Their degree of risk is unclear.
- Bramble Cay mosaic-tailed rat ( Melomys rubicola ) was endemic to Bramble Cay , one of the Torres Strait Islands . The species is probably extinct.
- Melomys rufescens lives all over New Guinea.
- The Buka mosaic tail rat ( Melomys spechti ) inhabited the island of Buka . The species is extinct.
- Melomys talaudium occurs on two of the Talaud Islands and is considered critically endangered.
Some more species that were previously listed in this genus are now classified under the genera Mammelomys , Paramelomys and Protochromys .
The genus is systematically classified within the Old World mice in the Uromys 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 .
