Brushtail tree mice
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| Peters , 1869 |
The brush tail tree mice ( Chiropodomys ) are a genus of rodents from the group of old world mice (Murinae) that live in Southeast Asia .
General
They are tree-dwelling, very small mice that mostly live in tropical rainforests . They have a head body length of 7 to 12 centimeters, plus 9 to 17 centimeters of tail. They are gray or brown on top and white on the underside. The tail is only sparsely hairy, but somewhat stronger at the tip, so that the eponymous impression of a brush is created.
The true brushtail tree mouse is the best studied species. It is particularly common in bamboo forests . She becomes active at night, and during the day she sleeps in a nest in the bamboo, which is padded with leaves. The diet is entirely vegetable.
Systematics
According to Wilson & Reeder (2005), the dwarf tree mice are part of the Micromys group within the old world mice.
A total of six species are known, but only one of these is common and widespread:
- Palawan brushtail tree mouse ( Chiropodomys calamianensis ) lives on the Philippines island of Palawan and neighboring islands.
- Indomalayan brushtail tree mouse ( Chiropodomys gliroides ) occurs from southeastern China over the mainland of southeast Asia to Java and Bali.
- Koopmann brushtail tree mouse ( Chiropodomys karlkoopmani ) lives in the Mentawai Islands off the south coast of Sumatra.
- Great brush-tailed tree mouse ( Chiropodomys major ) lives on Borneo.
- Gray-bellied brush-tailed tree mouse ( Chiropodomys muroides ) also occurs on Borneo.
- Small brush-tailed tree mouse ( Chiropodomys pusillus ) is also native to Borneo.
The IUCN lists C. karlkoopmani as "high risk" ( endangered ), C. gliroides is "not at risk" ( least concern ). There is too little usable data for the other four species.
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
- Chiropodomys on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved October 18, 2009.