Votsotsa
| Votsotsa | ||||||||||||
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Votsotsa ( Hypogeomys antimena ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Hypogeomys | ||||||||||||
| Grandidier , 1869 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Hypogeomys antimena | ||||||||||||
| Grandidier , 1869 |
The Votsotsa ( Hypogeomys antimena ), also known as the Madagascan giant rat or Madagascar jumping rat , is the largest rodent on the island of Madagascar .
While other species of Madagascar rats (Nesomyinae) are mouse to rat-sized, the Votsotsa reaches a head body length of 30 to 35 cm, and a 21 to 25 cm long tail. The fur is gray-brown on top and white on the underside. The dark brown tail stands out from this. The Votsotsa is also characterized by very enlarged ears and rear legs, which makes it very vaguely reminiscent of a wild rabbit . In fact, in Madagascar it has occupied a similar ecological niche as the wild rabbit.
Votsotsas have a very limited range: They only live in the coastal rainforests with sandy soils. They do not occur in the mountainous interior of the island. They dig extensive burrows in which to spend the day. At night they come out and move forward partly running, partly jumping. The food mainly consists of fallen fruits.
The destruction of the coastal rainforests has dramatically reduced the habitat of this species. In total, the area hardly covers more than 1000 km², so that the IUCN classifies the Votsotsa as an endangered species today.
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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 .
Web links
- Species description on wildmadagascar.org, with pictures
- Hypogeomys antimena inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.1. Listed by: Durbin, J. & Goodman, S., 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2013.