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Dendromurinae
Dendromurinae is a subfamily of rodents in the family Nesomyidae and superfamily Muroidea. The dendromurines are currently restricted to Africa, as is the case for all extant members of the family Nesomyidae. The authorship of the subfamily has been attributed to both Alston, 1876, and (incorrectly) to G. M. Allen, 1939. Two genera, ''Dendromus'' and ''Steatomys'', are relatively common throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa. The remaining genera are relatively rare and have restricted geographic distributions. The link rat, ''Deomys ferugineus'', has been traditionally placed in this subfamily, but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that it is more related to the spiny mice, genus '' Acomys''. The link rat is now placed in the family Muridae and subfamily Deomyinae. Only two of the currently recognized dendromurine genera, ''Dendromus'' and ''Steatomys'', have been studied in molecular analyses. Considering how distinct these genera are from one another, the placemen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Prionomys
Dollman's tree mouse (''Prionomys batesi'') is a poorly understood climbing mouse from central Africa. It is unique enough that it has been placed in a genus of its own, ''Prionomys'', since its discovery in 1910. Distribution and habitat Dollman's tree mouse has only been recorded in four localities in three countries. These are Bitye and Obala in Cameroon, La Maboké in Central African Republic, and Odzala in Republic of the Congo. In total only 23 specimens are known to be present in museums throughout the world (Denys et al., 2006). Denys et al. (2006) indicate that ''Prionomys'' has a unique association with forest-savannah mosaics in central Africa. During interglacial periods, this region has undergone varying degrees of wet and dry periods. Savannah expands during dry periods and forest expands during wet periods, but there are small scale shifts in which regions are dry or wet. ''Prionomys'' appears to be associated with forest habitat on the edge of savannah pat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leimacomys
The Togo mouse (''Leimacomys buettneri''), also known as Büttner's African forest mouse or the groove-toothed forest mouse, is a unique muroid rodent known from only two specimens taken from near the type locality of Bismarckburg, near Yege, Togo, in 1890. Its genus is monotypic. Description and natural history The entirety of known material for this species consists of a single, poor-quality dry skin, a fluid-preserved animal, and a cranium and mandible. The cranium and mandible are from different animals. The material is deposited in the Zoologisches Museum of Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany. The head and body length is with a tail of . This tail is unusually short relative to the body length (ratio of 37%) and is considered an important diagnostic feature. The animal is dark to grey brown above and pale grey brown below. Ears are small and hairy. Feet are also somewhat hairy. The tail may be naked or slightly haired. The incisors are shallowly grooved. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nesomyidae
The Nesomyidae are a family of African rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes several subfamilies, all of which are native to either continental Africa or to Madagascar. Included in this family are Malagasy rodents, climbing mice, African rock mice, swamp mice, pouched rats, and the white-tailed rat. Characteristics Nesomyids are small- to medium-sized rodents, with the largest being the size of a rat. Physically, they may resemble mice, rats, voles, or hamsters, depending on the species and subfamily. Their diets vary from fairly strict herbivory to nearly pure insectivory. Their habits are similarly variable, with some species climbing trees, and others burrowing in the ground. They give birth to up to four young after a gestation period around six weeks. Classification Many of these animals were once thought to be related to other groups of muroid rodents, but this African-based clade has been proposed and confirmed on the basis of genetic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Muroidea
The Muroidea are a large superfamily of rodents, including mice, rats, voles, hamsters, lemmings, gerbils, and many other relatives. Although the Muroidea originated in Eurasia, they occupy a vast variety of habitats on every continent except Antarctica. Some authorities have placed all members of this group into a single family, Muridae, due to difficulties in determining how the subfamilies are related to one another. Many of the families within the Muroidea superfamily have more variations between the families than between the different clades. A possible explanation for the variations in rodents is because of the location of these rodents; these changes could have been due to radiation or the overall environment they migrated to or originated in. The following taxonomy is based on recent well-supported molecular phylogenies. The muroids are classified in six families, 19 subfamilies, around 280 genera, and at least 1,750 species. Taxonomy *Family Platacanthomyidae (spiny ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Deomyinae
The subfamily Deomyinae consists of four genera of mouse-like rodents that were placed in the subfamilies Murinae and Dendromurinae until very recently. They are sometimes called the Acomyinae, particularly in references that antedate the discovery that the link rat, '' Deomys ferugineus'', is part of the clade. Deomyinae is the older name and therefore has priority over Acomyinae. Deomyines share no morphological characteristics that can be used to separate them from other muroids, though subtle aspects of the third upper molar have been suggested. This subfamily is united solely on the basis of shared genetic mutations. These conclusions have demonstrated good statistical support using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, and DNA-DNA hybridization. Actually, all of the species in the subfamily share stiff hairs somewhere on their bodies. Because of the lack of physical characteristics supporting this group, it is very possible that the subfamily as it is currently recogn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Deomys Ferugineus
The link rat (''Deomys ferrugineus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is also known by the common name Congo forest mouse.Schlitter, D. & Kerbis Peterhans, J. 2008''Deomys ferrugineus''.The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. Downloaded on 10 April 2015. It is native to central Africa. It is 12–14.5 cm long with a 15–21 cm long tail. It weighs 40-70 g. It has long legs and a pointed, narrow head, surmounted by enormous ears. It has a very long, bicoloured tail. The back and forehead are rich orange and brown and the underside is white. The rump hairs are stiff. The link rat is nocturnal and crepuscular. It prefers seasonally flooded forest floors between Cameroon and the Victoria Nile. It has a widespread but scattered distribution and is seldom common. It feeds mainly on insects, crustaceans, slugs and some fallen fruits, notably palm-nut husks. The link rat has traditionally been placed as a member of the subfamily Dend ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dendromus
Mice in the genus ''Dendromus'' are commonly referred to as African climbing mice or tree mice, although these terms are often used to describe all members of the subfamily Dendromurinae. The genus is currently restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, but fossils classified in the genus have been found from Late Miocene deposits in Arabia and Europe. Characteristics Mice in the genus ''Dendromus'' are small (Head and body: 5–10 cm) with relatively long tails (6–13 cm). This tail is semi-prehensile and provides an aid in climbing. The dense fur is grey or brown and either one or two stripes are present on the back. Unlike most other muroids, these mice have only three fingers on each hand. They are also distinguished by their grooved incisors. Natural history Habitat varies widely. Elevation ranges from sea-level to 4300 m. Anecdotal evidence suggests they are arboreal, but data supporting this hypothesis are limited. They do appear to be good climbers and the degre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dendroprionomys
The velvet climbing mouse (''Dendroprionomys rousseloti'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae The Nesomyidae are a family of African rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes several subfamilies, all of which are native to either continental Africa or to Madagascar. Included in this family are Malagasy rodents, .... It is found only in Republic of the Congo. References * * Schlitter, D. 2004.Dendroprionomys rousseloti 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 19 July 2007. Dendromurinae Mammals of the Republic of the Congo Endemic fauna of the Republic of the Congo Mammals described in 1966 Taxa named by Francis Petter Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Western Congolian forest–savanna mosaic {{Muroid-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malacothrix (mammal)
The gerbil mouse or long-eared mouse (''Malacothrix typica'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, hot desert A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About on ...s, and temperate deserts. References * Dendromurinae Mammals described in 1834 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Muridae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Megadendromus
Nikolaus's mouse (''Megadendromus nikolausi'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Megadendromus''. It is found only in Ethiopia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby .... References * Endemic fauna of Ethiopia Dendromurinae Mammals of Ethiopia Mammals described in 1978 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Ethiopian montane moorlands {{Muroid-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Remarkable Climbing Mouse
The montane African climbing mouse or remarkable climbing mouse (''Dendromus insignis'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Description The montane African climbing mice have short, soft brown to reddish-brown pelage with a dark stripe down the middle of their backs and dark gray or grayish underparts. They have tails that can equal up to 133% of their head and body length, which taper and are covered in scales and short hair. Montane African climbing mice have a typical mymorphous zygomatic arch with a narrow infraorbital foramen, due to the prominence of the lower anterior-positioned masseter In human anatomy, the masseter is one of the muscles of mastication. Found only in mammals, it is particularly powerful in herbivores to facilitate chewing of plant matter. The most obvious muscle of mastication is the masseter muscle, since it ... muscles—resulting in only three mo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved in amber, hair, petrified wood and DNA remnants. The totality of fossils is known as the ''fossil record''. Paleontology is the study of fossils: their age, method of formation, and evolutionary significance. Specimens are usually considered to be fossils if they are over 10,000 years old. The oldest fossils are around 3.48 billion years old to 4.1 billion years old. Early edition, published online before print. The observation in the 19th century that certain fossils were associated with certain rock strata led to the recognition of a geological timescale and the relative ages of different fossils. The development of radiometric dating techniques in the early 20th century allowed scientists to quantitatively measure the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
