Sulawesi giant rat
| Sulawesi giant rat | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Paruromys | ||||||||||||
| Ellerman , 1954 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Paruromys dominator | ||||||||||||
| ( Thomas , 1921) |
The Sulawesi giant rat ( Paruromys dominator ) is a rodent from the group of old world mice (Murinae) that is only found on Sulawesi .
They reach a head body length of 20 to 26 centimeters, plus a 24 to 31 centimeter long tail. Their weight is 350 to 500 grams. Their soft, dense fur is gray-brown on the top and white on the underside. The ears and feet are dark brown. The body is stocky, the face elongated, the tail relatively long.
These rodents live on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi , where they are the largest representatives of the mouse species . They inhabit forests, both in the lowlands and in the mountains. They build nests in hollow tree trunks, under rocks or in the vegetation. Their diet consists entirely of fruits.
The Sulawesi giant rats are hunted and eaten in some areas, but only in areas where there are few or no Muslims. Overall, the species is not endangered according to IUCN .
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
- Paruromys dominator onthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Retrieved May 29, 2009.