Scapteromys
| Scapteromys | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Scapteromys | ||||||||||||
| Waterhouse , 1837 |
Scapteromys is agenus of rodents from the New World mice group that lives in South America . It is of two types.
These rodents are relatively large representatives of the New World mice and are reminiscent of rats . They reach a head body length of 15 to 20 centimeters and a tail length of 13 to 17 centimeters. The weight is 110 to 200 grams. Their fur is colored black-gray on the upper side, the underside is light gray.
The animals of this genus live in southeastern Brazil , Uruguay , southern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina . Their habitat are marshland and other habitats located near water.
They lead a semi-aquatic way of life, that is, they stay in the water from time to time and can swim well. They are predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal and spend the day in nests that they create in small earth pits. Their diet consists mainly of insects , but they also eat other invertebrates and plant material.
A distinction is made between two types, Scapteromys aquaticus and Scapteromys tumidus . Both types are very similar outwardly and are often combined into one species. However, they differ in the number of chromosomes , which justifies separation. Scapteromys aquaticus has a diploid chromosome set of 2n = 32, Scapteromys tumidus has a chromosome set of 2n = 24. However, specimens with chromosome sets of 2n = 34 and 2n = 36 have also been found in Brazil, suggesting another species, Scapteromys meridionalis .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Cibele R. Bonvicino, Fabiano A. Fernandes, Maria C. Viana, Bernardo R. Teixeira & Paulo S. D'Andrea: Scapteromys aquaticus (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) in Brazil with comments on karyotype and phylogenetics relationships Zoologia, 30, 2, Pp. 242–247, April 2013 doi : 10.1590 / S1984-46702013000200016
- ↑ Fernando Marques Quintela, Gislene Lopes Goncalves, Sérgio Luiz Althoff, Ives Jose Sbalqueiro, Luiz Flamarion Barbosa Oliveira & Thales Renato Ochotorena de Freitas: A new species of swamp rat of the genus Scapteromys Waterhouse, 1837 (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) endemic to Araucaria Forest in Southern Brazil. Zootaxa, 3811, 2, pp. 207–225, June 2014 doi : 10.11646 / zootaxa.3811.2.3
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
- Endangerment level of the individual species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .