Dwarf bilch
| Dwarf bilch | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Typhlomys nanus | ||||||||||||
| Cheng , He , Chen , Zhang , Wan , Li , Zhang & Jiang , 2017 |
The dwarf bilch ( Typhlomys nanus ) is a barely researched rodent species from the family of stachelbilche (Platacanthomyidae). It was discovered in 2008 and scientifically described in 2017 . Its distribution area is in the Chinese province of Yunnan .
features
The dwarf bilch is the smallest known species of the genus Typhlomys . The head-body length is 65 to 74 mm, the tail length 97 to 106 mm and the weight 8.8 to 13.2 g. The fur is clearly two-colored. The back is ash gray. The belly and cheeks are creamy white. The large ears have no fur. The eyes are very small. The whiskers are long. The long tail is lightly brushed at the base, but strong at the tip, which on the surface resembles a bottle brush. In several of the specimens examined, the tip of the tail had white hair. The cranium is dome-shaped.
Distribution area
The dwarf bilge is currently only known from the Jiaozi Mountains near Kunming and Dawei in the Pingbian Autonomous County in the Chinese province of Yunnan, where it was discovered at an altitude of 3,252 m.
habitat
The dwarf bilch lives in secondary forests at altitudes between 2000 and 3000 m. The forests have an acidic, red soil and are dominated by the fir species Abies forrestii var. Georgei . The undergrowth consists of bamboo and rhododendrons.
Way of life
The way of life of the dwarf bilch is little studied. It is likely nocturnal and feeds on fruits and grains. Due to the exceptionally small eyes, it is possible that he Ultrasound - echolocation used in the orientation.
status
The dwarf bilge is currently not recorded by the IUCN , but too little data is available to be able to make an adequate statement about the population situation.
literature
- Feng Cheng, Kai He, Zhong-Zheng Chen, Bin Zhang, Tao Wan, Jia-Tang Li, Bao-Wei Zhang and Xue-Long Jiang: Phylogeny and systematic revision of the genus Typhlomys (Rodentia, Platacanthomyidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Mammalogy 98 (3), 2017, pp. 731-743 doi: 10.1093 / jmammal / gyx016
- Thomas Giarla: Family Platacanthomyidae (Tree Mice) In: Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr and Russell A. Mittermeier: Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 7: Rodents II. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, 2017. ISBN 978-84-16728-04-6 , p. 113