Atlantic tree rats

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Atlantic tree rats
Systematics
Subordination : Porcupine relatives (Hystricomorpha)
Partial order : Hystricognathi
without rank: Guinea Pig Relatives (Caviomorpha)
Family : Quill rats (Echimyidae)
Subfamily : Actual quill rats (Echimyinae)
Genre : Atlantic tree rats
Scientific name
Phyllomys
Lund , 1839

Atlantic tree rats ( Phyllomys ) are a genus in the sting rat family that is found mainly in eastern Brazil . For a long time, the species were assigned to the genus comb sting rats ( Echimys ).

These rarely sighted rodents live in forests near the Atlantic Ocean , climb trees and feed on parts of plants. Of various species such as the Lund Atlantic Tree Rat ( Phyllomys lundi ) or the Shorthaired Atlantic Tree Rat ( Phyllomys unicolor ), only one or two individuals were known until 2011.

features

The most important distinguishing feature to the comb sting rats and the tree sting rats ( Diplomys ) is the multilayered structure of the enamel of the upper molars in the Atlantic tree rats.

For the holotypes of 10 selected species, head body lengths of 21.2 to 28 cm and tail lengths of 15.7 to 24 cm were recorded. They had hind feet 3.7 to 4.7 cm long and ears 1.3 to 1.7 cm long. A specimen of the Lund Atlantic tree rat examined in 2016 was larger with a head body length of 39.8 cm, a tail length of 20.9 cm and a weight of 174.6 g.

The fur of the Atlantic tree rats can be soft or mixed with spines. It skin on the top a brown to red-brown or golden-brown color, while the underside is covered by light gray-brown to white fur. Apart from the rump, the spines, if any, are very small. The largest spines are up to 1.5 mm wide. The head is characterized by large eyes, rounded ears and long vibrissae . The species have short limbs and wide hind feet. With the exception of the thumb, which has a nail , all fingers and toes are equipped with powerful claws. In both females and males, there is a gland on the sternum that is larger in the latter. The front of the tail is covered with fur over a length of about 2 cm in all species. This is followed by a bare or fur-covered section and a tassel on the tip of the tail. The teats of the females are arranged with three pairs on the chest and one pair in the groin area.

Types and distribution

Mammal Species of the World and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) list 12 and 13 species in the genus:

status

Different species are limited to a small area that is also threatened by forest clearing. The IUCN lists two species as threatened with extinction (Critically Endangered) , three species as endangered (Endangered) and three species with insufficient available data (Data Deficient) .

supporting documents

  1. ↑ a b c Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Phyllomys ).
  2. ^ Loss & Leite: Evolutionary diversification of Phyllomys ( en ) In: Journal of Mammalogy . Oxford University Press. Pp. 1352-1366. 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  3. ^ A b Patton, Pardiñas & D'Elía: Mammals of South America . 2nd Edition. University of Chicago Press, 2015, ISBN 0-226-28240-6 , pp. 915 ( genus Phyllomys ).
  4. ↑ Emmons et al .: A review of the named forms of Phyllomys ( en , pdf) In: American Museum Novitates . American Museum of Natural History. S. 8. 2002. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  5. ↑ Faria et al .: New record of the rare Atlantic Forest rodent Phyllomys lundi ( en ) In: Zoologia (Curitiba) . Scielo Brasil. 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  6. ↑ a b Phyllomys in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2018.