Yalden rat

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Yalden rat
Systematics
Family : Long-tailed mice (Muridae)
Subfamily : Old World Mice (Murinae)
Tribe : Arvicanthini
Arvicanthis group
Genre : Harrington rats ( Desmomys )
Type : Yalden rat
Scientific name
Desmomys yaldeni
Lavrenchenko , 2003

The Yalden rat ( Desmomys yaldeni ) is a rodent in the subfamily of Old World mice (Murinae). The Art epithet honors the British mammalogen Derek W. Yalden, who died in 2013 .

features

With a head-torso length of 117 to 132 mm, a tail length of 141 to 145 mm and a weight of 45 to 49 g, the species is slightly smaller than the Harrington rat ( Desmomys harringtoni ), with which it forms the genus of Harrington rats . The values ​​come from two specimens that were determined when Lavrenchenko was first described. The Yalden rat has hind feet about 28 mm long and ears about 18 mm long. The harsh fur on the upper side is made up of hairs that are gray near the root, with a reddish brown middle part and a black tip. This mainly results in an agouti color on the trunk. This is interrupted on the middle of the back by a yellow-brown eel line . The individual hairs are 11 mm long and are shorter than those of the Harrington rat. The underside is covered with light gray to white fur. Another characteristic are the almost black hands and feet with a reddish shade. The Harrington rat's paws are lighter. The tail is covered with short hair and divided into a black upper side and a yellowish lower side.

distribution

This rodent lives endemically in a small mountain range in southwest Ethiopia . Individuals have been found between 1800 and 1930 meters. The region is covered with humid forests, which mainly consist of arabica coffee trees ( Coffea arabica ).

Way of life

Almost nothing is known about the way of life of the species. Because of the longer tail, it is believed that the Yalden rat climbs trees more often than its sister species . The shape of the teeth suggests a diet of invertebrates and berries or fruits.

Systematics

The Yalden rat was first described scientifically in 2003 by Leonid A. Lavrenchenko . He did this on three individuals. Two of the specimens come from the Sheko Forest, including the holotype , which consists of a fully grown female. It was picked up in 1999 by the first descriptor himself. The third individual is an animal of unknown sex that was caught in 1971 in the region 2 km west of Gore. Both areas are located in southwestern Ethiopia. These are the only three specimens of the species to date.

status

The Yalden rat is threatened by deforestation. Since the known distribution area is less than 10,000 km², the species is listed by the IUCN as endangered (Vulnerable).

swell

  1. ↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Desmomys yaldeni ).
  2. ↑ a b c Leonid A. Lavrenchenko: A contribution to the systematics of Desmomys Thomas, 1910 (Rodentia, Muridae) with the description of a new species. Bonn Zoological Contributions 50 (4), 2003, pp. 313–327 ( [1] )
  3. ↑ a b c Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold, Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa, Volume III. A&C Black, 2013, ISBN 978-1-4081-2257-0 , pp. 403-404, Desmomys yaldeni
  4. ↑ a b Desmomys yaldeni in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: Kennerley, R. & Lavrenchenko, L., 2016. Retrieved on 4 February 2017th