New Guinea white tailed rat
| New Guinea white tailed rat | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Xenuromys | ||||||||||||
| Tate & Archbold , 1941 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Xenuromys barbatus | ||||||||||||
| ( Milne-Edwards , 1900) |
The New Guinea white tailed rat ( Xenuromys barbatus ) is a rodent from the group of old world mice (Murinae).
New Guinea white-tailed rats are among the larger representatives of the Old World mice. They reach a head body length of 27 to 34 centimeters, to which a 22 to 28 centimeter long tail comes. Their weight is 0.9 to 1.1 kilograms. The fur is red-brown or gray on the back, the belly is light gray to whitish. The paws are almost hairless, the tail, which is at least half white, is scaly.
These rodents are known from different places in New Guinea , it is conceivable that their range extends over the whole island. Their habitat are hilly or mountainous forests up to 1600 meters above sea level.
Very little is known about the way of life. Presumably they live on the ground and feed on fruits, seeds and insects.
The New Guinea white-tailed rat is hunted for its meat in some areas, but overall the species is not endangered according to the IUCN . The species is systematically part of the Pogonomys group , a radiation of Old World mice that is mainly native to New Guinea.
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
- Xenuromys barbatus onthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Retrieved May 29, 2009.