Pousargues fat mouse
| Pousargues fat mouse | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Steatomys opimus | ||||||||||||
| Pousargues , 1894 |
Pousargues fat mouse ( Steatomys opimus ) is a rodent in the genus of fat mice that is found in central Africa . In older papers the population was occasionally listed as a subspecies or synonym of the species Steatomys bocagei or Steatomys pratensis .
features
With a head-to-trunk length of 115 to 125 mm, a tail length of 52 to 65 mm and a weight of 30 to 50 g, the species is one of the larger fat mice. It has hind feet 18 to 20 mm long and ears 17 to 20 mm long. The short and soft fur on the top is gray-brown in color, with the head being more gray. The underside, including the throat and lips, is white. The white toes are equipped with white claws . The short tail has a dark brown top and a white underside. Females have five pairs of teats . Like other fat mice, Steatomys opimus often appears thick because it can store fat under the skin.
distribution
The distribution area extends from Cameroon via the Central African Republic to South Sudan and in the south to the north of the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo . The habitat is mainly moist savannahs , which often adjoin gallery forests . Steatomys opimus prefers regions with tall, dense grass and termite structures .
Way of life
Pousargues fat mouse is nocturnal and can be found on the ground. The underground construction is usually created in an old termite nest or in a mound created by an aardvark . Nests of other rodents are not occupied. The construction begins with a 30 to 50 cm long tunnel, which has a diameter of 3 to 4 cm at the entrance. This is followed by the spherical living chamber with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm, which is 7 to 15 cm below the surface. The chamber is padded with shot from grass and leaves. The chamber is followed by up to three spiral-shaped dead corridors that end 70 to 100 cm below the surface. Occasionally these passages are filled with loose sand.
The specimens do not leave their nest on cool days. During rest, your body temperature can drop from around 34 ° C to around 24 ° C. Steatomys opimus takes on an apathetic state that resembles Torpor . The diet consists mainly of termites and ants . Occasionally other insects or grains will be eaten.
If females are not willing to mate, the animals live alone in the burrow. It is believed that reproduction is restricted to the rainy season between June and December. In some nests, females with 2 or 3 offspring of the same age could be registered. It is believed that the first mating occurs about a year after birth.
threat
Due to the high fat content, several specimens are caught as a food source by the population in Central Africa. There are no other threats to the population. Steatomys opimus can often be found in particularly suitable areas. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern .
Individual evidence
- ↑ 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, Steatomys opimus ).
- ↑ a b c d e Jonathan Kingdon (Ed.): Mammals of Africa . III, Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. A&C Black, 2014, p. 197-198 ( Pousargues's Fet Mouse ).
- ↑ a b Steatomys opimus in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2017. Posted by: Hoffmann, M. & Cox, NA, 2016. Accessed July 28, 2020.