Neusticomys
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| Anthony , 1921 |
Neusticomys is aspecies of rodent livingin northern South America from the group of fish rats within the New World mice . It includes 5 types.
The head body length is 10 to 13 centimeters, plus 9 to 11 centimeters of tail. The fur is soft, it is gray-black in the species N. monticolus and brown in the other species.
The animals of this genus live in northern South America, their range extends from Colombia , Ecuador and Peru through Venezuela to French Guiana and northern Brazil .
Neusticomys has significantly fewer adaptations to amphibious life than the other species of fish rats. Although they live near rivers and streams, they show some anatomical features that are reminiscent of land-dwelling mice: The outer ears are clearly visible and not hidden in the fur; the hind feet are not widened and not webbed; in addition, the streamlined shape of the body is less pronounced. Instead, the sharp incisors show the perfect adaptation to the insectivorous diet.
The following five types are distinguished:
- Neusticomys monticolus is native to western Colombia and northern Ecuador.
- Neusticomys mussoi is only known from one place in western Venezuela.
- Neusticomys oyapocki lives in French Guiana and northeastern Brazil.
- Neusticomys peruviensis is only known from two places in eastern Peru.
- Neusticomys venezuelae lives in eastern and southern Venezuela and Guyana.
Only N. monticolus is a common species; the other four species are known from very few specimens about which little is known. These four species are on the IUCN as endangered ( endangered listings).
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
- Endangerment level of the individual species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .