Paramelomys
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| Rümmler , 1936 |
Paramelomys is a genus of rodents from the group of old world mice (Murinae). The genus includes nine species. Until 1996 these weregrouped togetherwith the species of the genus Melomys .
features
These rodents are rather small, mouse-like animals. They reach a head body length of 9 to 18 centimeters. Their fur is usually brownish on the upper side, the underside is whitish to light brown. They differ from Melomys in their longer, flatter skull.
Occurrence
The animals are native to New Guinea , their habitat are forests up to 3000 meters above sea level. They often stay on the ground and live in earthworks, but can climb well. Their diet consists mainly of fruits, berries and plants.
species
On the basis of a multivariate analysis of morphological characteristics, the genus Melomys could be broken down into several genera in 1996 , some of which were previously defined as sub-genera. The nine species that are native to New Guinea now form the genus Paramelomys :
- Gressitt's mosaic- tailed rat ( Paramelomys gressitti ) lives in a small area in eastern New Guinea.
- Papuan lowland mosaic- tailed rat ( Paramelomys levipes ) is native to the lowlands of southeast New Guinea.
- Lorentz mosaic tail rat ( Paramelomys lorentzii ) occurs in southern New Guinea.
- Thomas' mosaic-tailed rat ( Paramelomys mollis ) lives in the mountains of central New Guinea.
- Monckton's mosaic- tailed rat ( Paramelomys moncktoni ) lives in lowlands in eastern New Guinea.
- Long-nosed mosaic-tailed rat ( Paramelomys naso ) is common in the lowlands of southwest New Guinea.
- Common lowland mosaic-tailed rat ( Paramelomys platyops ) occurs in almost all of New Guinea.
- Mountain mosaic- tailed rat ( Paramelomys rubex ) lives in the mountainous region in central New Guinea.
- Stone mosaic tail rat ( Paramelomys steini ) is only known from a small area in western New Guinea.
The genus is systematically classified within the Old World mice in the Uromys group .
Danger
The IUCN lists P. gressitti as "endangered" , exact data are missing for P. levipes and P. steini , the other six species are common and not endangered.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b J. I. Menzies: A Systematic Revision of Melomys (Rodentia: Muridae) of New Guinea . Australian Journal of Zoology 44, 4, pp. 367-426, 1996
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
- Paramelomys on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved October 10, 2009.