Multi-teat mice
| Multi-teat mice | ||||||||||||
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Southern polyteat mouse |
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| Mastomys | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1915 |
The multi-teat mice or multi-teat rats ( mastomys ) are a genus of old-world mice that is widespread throughout Africa south of the Sahara . They are among the most successful rodents on the African continent because they have colonized a large number of habitats and, with one species, have also become a cultural follower of humans.
General
Depending on the species, multi-teat mice have a head body length of 6 to 18 centimeters, plus a 6 to 15 centimeter long tail. The weight is 20 to 80 grams. Domesticated multi-teat mice can become significantly heavier with 60 to 130 grams. The fur is brown or gray on top and gray or white on the underside. The shape is very similar to a real rat, and the differences only become apparent when analyzing features of the skull and dentition. It is named after the number of teats, which in some species can reach 24, more than in any other rodent. However, there are also species with a far smaller number of teats, for example M. shortridgei only has 10 teats.
The natural habitats are savannahs, semi-deserts and dry forests. One species specializes in the arid Sahel zone , another is endemic to the Okavango swamps. The Natal multi-teat mouse is known as a cultural follower and is feared as a disease carrier. All multi-teat mice are extremely reproductive. The average number of cubs in the litter is ten to twelve, but there can be up to 22 cubs. Two litters a year seem to be the rule.
The gestation period for the Natal multi-teat mouse is 23 days. The newborns weigh around 1.8 grams, open their eyes at 16 days, and are weaned and independent at three weeks.
Systematics
In contrast to the previously widespread view, the multi-teat mice are only distantly related to the real rats ( Rattus ). Rather, they are part of an African radiation of the Old World mice, the Stenocephalemys group, and are considered to be close relatives of the African soft rats ( Praomys ).
Wilson & Reeder (2005) list eight types:
- The awash multi- teat mouse ( Mastomys awash ) is only known from Ethiopia.
- The South African multi- teat mouse ( Mastomys coucha ) is common in southern Africa.
- The Guinea multi-teat mouse ( Mastomys erythroleucus ) lives in the Sahel region in western and central Africa.
- The Hubert multi-teat mouse ( Mastomys huberti ) is widespread from Mauritania to Nigeria.
- The Verheyen multi- teat mouse ( Mastomys kollmannspergeri , formerly M. Verheyeni ) occurs in the region around Lake Chad.
- The natal multi-teat mouse ( Mastomys natalensis ) is common as a culture follower in all of sub-Saharan Africa.
- The dwarf multi- teat mouse ( Mastomys pernanus ) is known only from a few specimens from Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
- The Shortridge multi-teat mouse ( Mastomys shortridgei ) lives in the Okawango swamps in Angola, Botswana and Namibia.
The IUCN lists the awash multi-teat mouse as "endangered" ( vulnerable ), the dwarf multi-teat mouse under "too little data available", the other six species are "not at risk" ( least concern ).
The Natal multi-teat mouse
The Natal multi-teat mouse has become a cultural follower of humans. It is believed that its range was once restricted to South Africa, where it was an inhabitant of savannahs. In the wake of humans, it then spread over all of sub-Saharan Africa. Today the Natal polyteat mouse is widespread in African villages, but not in large cities. The conquest of the cities probably failed due to the competition of the superior domestic rats and brown rats . But even in numerous regions of rural Africa, the numbers of the Natal polyteat mouse are now declining due to an advance of the brown rat. Only in remote villages does the multi-teat mouse remain the more common and often the only species.
Because of their high rate of reproduction, Natal multi-teat mice are a serious plague. They inhabit human dwellings and live on the supplies there. They also transmit dreaded diseases such as the plague , leptospirosis and Lassa fever . In the case of the plague, multi-teat mice are likely to have become infected even in rats that came from ships to Sub-Saharan Africa and whose rat fleas jumped over the multi-teat mice.
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
Individual evidence
- ↑ Description of husbandry Vielzitzenmaus . In: Felis-silvestris.com . May 25, 2013 ( felis-silvestris.com [accessed November 21, 2017]).
- ↑ Metal Monkey Exotics: Breeding ASFs :: Metal Monkey Exotics. Retrieved November 21, 2017 .
- ^ Report on the multi-teat mouse on the Mäuseasyl website