The dark spiny tree-rat (''Echimys saturnus'') is a species of

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...

in the family

Echimyidae Echimyidae is the family of neotropical spiny rats and their fossil relatives. This is the most species-rich family of hystricognath rodents. It is probably also the most ecologically diverse, with members ranging from fully arboreal to terr ...

. It is a rarely encountered and nocturnal species, found in eastern

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

and central

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

. Compared to '' Echimys chrysurus'', the main diagnostic character state of this '' Echimys'' species is the mostly black dorsal part of the head and body. In addition, ''E. saturnus'' can be distinguished from '' Echimys vieirai'' by possessing a venter spotted with white while it is uniformly grayish brown in the latter species.

References

Echimys Mammals described in 1928 Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Echimyidae-stub

See also

References