Prometheus mouse
| Prometheus mouse | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Prometheomys | ||||||||||||
| Satunin , 1901 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Prometheomys schaposchnikowi | ||||||||||||
| Satunin , 1901 |
The Prometheus mouse ( Prometheomys schaposchnikowi ) is a mammal from the subfamily of voles (Arvicolinae). The genus Prometheomys is monotypical with the Prometheus mouse as the only species . The Prometheus mouse is endemic to the Caucasus region , which it colonizes in several geographically isolated (disjoint) sub-areas. The animals live there exclusively underground in open areas with dense ground vegetation. The Prometheus mouse is listed by the IUCN as a kind of warning list ("near threatened").
features
The Prometheus mouse is a very large vole with very small eyes, which are adapted to the underground, burrowing way of life, ears almost hidden in the fur, and very long claws on the front feet. The head-trunk length is 115–180 mm, the tail length 36–60 mm, the length of the hind feet 20–25 mm and the ear length 10–15 mm. The animals weigh 56-88 g. The fur is reddish brown on the upper side, pink and cinnamon colored on the underside with hardly any distinctive dividing line between the underside and the upper side. The tail is hairy brown in one color, the tip is often white.
distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the Caucasus region ; the distribution area includes several geographically isolated (disjoint) sub-areas in Georgia , the Russian Federation and in the extreme northeast of Turkey . The animals mainly inhabit nutrient-rich meadows on mountain slopes with long snow cover, but also occur on forest meadows and in cultivated land. You need digging soils. The Prometheus mouse occurs at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,800 m.
Way of life
The animals live mainly underground in loose colonies that can cover an area of 200 to 500 m². They create branching underground duct systems, the nests consist of dry grass and are up to one meter below the surface of the earth. When digging, the earth is loosened with the long front claws and then transported to the surface of the earth at the entrances to the building and piled up there. The food, which is probably exclusively plant-based, is sought underground and above ground and stored in the corridors on the edge of the colony. For the winter, the animals collect up to 3.5 kg of supplies, they do not really hibernate. Reproduction takes place from May to August with usually two litters per season. The litters are relatively small and usually contain only three young.
Existence and endangerment
The range of the species is small and at least in the southern part of the area the population development is presumably declining due to habitat destruction. The Prometheus mouse is therefore listed by the IUCN as a kind of warning list ("near threatened").
supporting documents
literature
- Stéphane Aulagnier, Patrick Haffner, Anthony J. Mitchell-Jones, François Moutou, Jan Zima: The mammals of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The destination guide. Haupt, Bern et al. 2009, ISBN 978-3-258-07506-8 , pp. 196-197.
Individual evidence
Web links
- Prometheomys schaposchnikowi in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2009. Posted by: Bukhnikashvili, A. & Krystufek, B., 2008. Accessed March 21 of 2010.