Flores cave rat
| Flores cave rat | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Spelaeomys | ||||||||||||
| Hooijer , 1957 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Spelaeomys florensis | ||||||||||||
| Hooijer , 1957 |
The Flores cave rat ( Spelaeomys florensis ) is an extinct rodent from the group of old world mice (Murinae).
Parts of the skull and jaw from this rodent were found which came from at least 32 individuals. In their construction and dimensions, the finds resemble the Flores giant rats ( Papagomys ), but differ in the construction of the molars .
It is possible that the Flores cave rats lived partially on trees and fed on buds, flowers and insects.
The finds were discovered in a cave on the Indonesian island of Flores and dated to an age of around 3550 years. Nothing is known precisely about the causes and timing of the extinction of the 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 .