Striped pouch mice
| Striped pouch mice | ||||||||||||
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Narrow-striped pouch mouse ( Phascolosorex dorsalis ) |
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| Phascolosorex | ||||||||||||
| Matschie , 1916 |
The striped bag mice ( Phascolosorex ) are a genus of marsupials from the predator family (Dasyuridae). In this genus , two species , the narrow-striped striped bag mouse ( Phascolosorex dorsalis ) and the red-bellied striped bag mouse ( Phascolosorex doriae ) are grouped together.
features
Striped pouches have external similarities with shrews , but they are not related to them. Their fur is colored orange-brown or gray-brown, a conspicuous narrow, black stripe runs along the back from the snout to the tail. P. dorsalis is the smaller species with a head trunk length of 13 to 17 centimeters and has a brownish colored belly and brown feet, while P. doriae has a head trunk length of 17 to 22 centimeters, a red belly and black feet. The evenly hairy tail becomes about as long as the body.
Distribution and way of life
Little is known about the way of life of the striped pouch mice. Both species inhabit rainforests in New Guinea , P. dorsalis higher regions up to 3100 meters above sea level, P. doriae lower regions from 900 to 1900 meters above sea level. They live on the ground and, unlike most other predatory baggers, are predominantly diurnal. Their food is likely to consist of insects and other invertebrates, possibly also small vertebrates.
There is no reliable information about the degree of risk. While P. dorsalis is relatively common, P. doriae is a rare species; the IUCN lists it under "data deficient" - too little data available.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0801857899
