The Nesomyidae are a
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
of
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
n
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 na ...
s in the large and complex superfamily
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 excep ...
. It includes several
subfamilies, all of which are native to either continental Africa or to
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
. Included in this family are
Malagasy rodents,
climbing mice,
African rock mice,
swamp mice,
pouched rats, and the
white-tailed rat
The white-tailed rat (''Mystromys albicaudatus'') also known as the white-tailed mouse, is the only member of the subfamily Mystromyinae in the family Nesomyidae. This species is sometimes placed in the subfamily Cricetinae due to similarities ...
.
Characteristics
Nesomyids are small- to medium-sized rodents, with the largest being the size of a
rat. Physically, they may resemble
mice
A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...
, rats,
vole
Voles are small rodents that are relatives of lemmings and hamsters, but with a stouter body; a longer, hairy tail; a slightly rounder head; smaller eyes and ears; and differently formed molars (high-crowned with angular cusps instead of low-c ...
s, or
hamster
Hamsters are rodents (order Rodentia) belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains 19 species classified in seven genera.Fox, Sue. 2006. ''Hamsters''. T.F.H. Publications Inc. They have become established as popular small pets. The b ...
s, depending on the species and subfamily. Their diets vary from fairly strict
herbivory
A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthpart ...
to nearly pure
insectivory
A robber fly eating a hoverfly
An insectivore is a carnivorous animal or plant that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which can also refer to the human practice of eating insects.
The first vertebrate insectivores wer ...
. 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
Gestation is the period of development during the carrying of an embryo, and later fetus, inside viviparous animals (the embryo develops within the parent). It is typical for mammals, but also occurs for some non-mammals. Mammals during pregna ...
period around six weeks.
Classification
Many of these animals were once thought to be related to other groups of
muroid
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 excep ...
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 na ...
s, but this African-based
clade
A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...
has been proposed and confirmed on the basis of
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...
tic studies. Such alternate arrangement include the
pouched rats in the family
Muridae
The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 1,383 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia.
The name Muridae come ...
, and the white-tailed rat in the family
Cricetidae
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. At almost 608 species, it is the second-largest family of mammals, and has m ...
. Likewise, all members of the Nesomyidae are often placed in the family Muridae along with all other members of the Muroidea.
Nesomyids are classified in six
subfamilies, 21
genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
, and 68
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
.
FAMILY NESOMYIDAE
*Subfamily
Cricetomyinae - pouched rats
**Genus ''
Beamys
''Beamys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It contains the following species:
* Lesser hamster-rat (''Beamys hindei'')
* Greater hamster-rat
The greater hamster-rat, greater long-tailed pouched rat, or long-tailed pouched rat ( ...
''
***
Lesser hamster-rat
The lesser hamster-rat or long-tailed pouched rat (''Beamys hindei'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland coastal forests. It is threaten ...
, ''Beamys hindei''
***
Greater hamster-rat
The greater hamster-rat, greater long-tailed pouched rat, or long-tailed pouched rat (''Beamys major'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropica ...
, ''Beamys major''
**Genus ''
Cricetomys'' - giant pouched rats
***
Southern giant pouched rat
The southern giant pouched rat (''Cricetomys ansorgei'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is distributed in the savannah of East and Southern Africa.
Synonyms
A large number of synonyms have been noted for this species. They i ...
, ''Cricetomys ansorgei''
***
Gambian pouched rat
The Gambian pouched rat (''Cricetomys gambianus''), also Common name, commonly known as the African giant pouched rat, is a species of nocturnal pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus ''Cricetomys'', in the Family (biology), family Nesomyidae ...
, ''Cricetomys gambianus''
***
Emin's pouched rat
Emin's pouched rat ''(Cricetomys emini)'', also known as the African pouched rat, is a large rat of the muroid superfamily. It is related to ''Cricetomys gambianus'', the Gambian pouched rat. Both species belong to '' Cricetomys'', the genus of ...
, ''Cricetomys emini''
***
Kivu giant pouched rat
The Kivu giant pouched rat (''Cricetomys kivuensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. (2012)''Cricetomys kivuensis'' The Animal Diversity Web (online). ...
, ''Cricetomys kivuensis''
**Genus ''
Saccostomus
''Saccostomus'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It contains the following species:
* South African pouched mouse
The South African pouched mouse or southern African pouched mouse (''Saccostomus campestris'') is a species of rod ...
'' - pouched mice
***
South African pouched mouse, ''Saccostomus campestris''
***
Mearns's pouched mouse, ''Saccostomus mearnsi''
*Subfamily
Delanymyinae
Delany's mouse or Delany's swamp mouse (''Delanymys brooksi'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Delanymys'' and the only extant member of subfamily Delanymyinae, which also contains the foss ...
**Genus ''
Delanymys
Delany's mouse or Delany's swamp mouse (''Delanymys brooksi'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Delanymys'' and the only extant member of subfamily Delanymyinae, which also contains the foss ...
''
***
Delany's mouse, ''Delanymys brooksi''
*Subfamily
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 ...
**Genus ''
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, ...
'' - climbing mice
***
Remarkable climbing mouse, ''Dendromus insignis''
***
Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse, ''Dendromus kahuziensis''
***
Monard's African climbing mouse, ''Dendromus leucostomus''
***
Lovat's climbing mouse, ''Dendromus lovati''
***
Gray climbing mouse, ''Dendromus melanotis''
***
Brants's climbing mouse, ''Dendromus mesomelas''
***
Banana climbing mouse, ''Dendromus messorius''
***
Chestnut climbing mouse, ''Dendromus mystacalis''
***
Kivu climbing mouse, ''Dendromus nyasae (kivu)''
***
Nyika climbing mouse, ''Dendromus nyikae''
***
Cameroon climbing mouse, ''Dendromus oreas''
***''
Dendromus ruppi''
***
Vernay's climbing mouse, ''Dendromus vernayi''
**Genus ''
Megadendromus''
***
Nikolaus's mouse
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 shr ...
, ''Megadendromus nikolausi''
**Genus ''
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 ...
''
***
Velvet climbing mouse, ''Dendroprionomys rousseloti''
**Genus ''
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
Dollm ...
''
***
Dollman's climbing mouse, ''Prionomys batesi''
**Genus ''
Malacothrix''
***
Gerbil mouse
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 ...
, ''Malacothrix typica''
**Genus ''
Steatomys
''Steatomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It contains the following species:
* Bocage's African fat mouse (''Steatomys bocagei'')
* Northwestern fat mouse (''Steatomys caurinus'')
* Dainty fat mouse (''Steatomys cuppedius'' ...
'' - fat mice
***
Bocage's African fat mouse, ''Steatomys bocagei''
***
Northwestern fat mouse, ''Steatomys caurinus''
***
Dainty fat mouse, ''Steatomys cuppedius''
***
Jackson's fat mouse
The Jackson's fat mouse (''Steatomys jacksoni'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It is found in Ghana, Nigeria and possibly Benin.
Its natural habitats are arable land
Arable land (from the la, arabilis, "able to be ploughed ...
, ''Steatomys jacksoni''
***
Kreb's fat mouse, ''Steatomys krebsii''
***
Pousargues's African fat mouse, ''Steatomys opimus''
***
Tiny fat mouse
The tiny fat mouse (''Steatomys parvus'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Its natural habitats are subtro ...
, ''Steatomys parvus''
***
Fat mouse
The fat mouse (''Steatomys pratensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It is found in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Its n ...
, ''Steatomys pratensis''
*Subfamily
Mystromyinae
The white-tailed rat (''Mystromys albicaudatus'') also known as the white-tailed mouse, is the only member of the subfamily Mystromyinae in the family Nesomyidae. This species is sometimes placed in the subfamily Cricetinae due to similarities ...
**Genus ''
Mystromys
The white-tailed rat (''Mystromys albicaudatus'') also known as the white-tailed mouse, is the only member of the subfamily Mystromyinae in the family Nesomyidae. This species is sometimes placed in the subfamily Cricetinae due to similarities ...
''
***
White-tailed rat
The white-tailed rat (''Mystromys albicaudatus'') also known as the white-tailed mouse, is the only member of the subfamily Mystromyinae in the family Nesomyidae. This species is sometimes placed in the subfamily Cricetinae due to similarities ...
, ''Mystromys albicaudatus''
*Subfamily
Nesomyinae
The Malagasy rodents are the sole members of the subfamily Nesomyinae. These animals are the only native rodents of Madagascar, come in many shapes and sizes, and occupy a wide variety of ecological niches. There are nesomyines that resemble ge ...
- Malagasy rodents
**Genus ''
Brachytarsomys
''Brachytarsomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It contains the following species:
* White-tailed antsangy (''Brachytarsomys albicauda'')
* '' Brachytarsomys mahajambaensis'' (extinct)
* Hairy-tailed antsangy
The hairy-tai ...
'' - Malagasy white-tailed rats
***
White-tailed antsangy, ''Brachytarsomys albicauda''
***
Hairy-tailed antsangy
The hairy-tailed antsangy (''Brachytarsomys villosa'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It is found only in Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasi ...
, ''Brachytarsomys villosa''
**Genus ''
Brachyuromys
''Brachyuromys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It contains the following species:
* Betsileo short-tailed rat (''Brachyuromys betsileoensis'')
* Gregarious short-tailed rat
The gregarious short-tailed rat (''Brachyuromys ram ...
'' - Malagasy short-tailed rats
***
Betsileo short-tailed rat, ''Brachyuromys betsileoensis''
***
Gregarious short-tailed rat
The gregarious short-tailed rat (''Brachyuromys ramirohitra'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It is found only in Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest
A forest is an area of land domina ...
, ''Brachyuromys ramirohitra''
**Genus ''
Eliurus
''Eliurus'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It contains the following species:
* Tsingy tufted-tailed rat (''Eliurus antsingy'')
* Ankarana Special Reserve tufted-tailed rat (''Eliurus carletoni'')
* Ellerman's tufted-tailed rat ...
'' - tufted-tailed rats
***
Tsingy tufted-tailed rat, ''Eliurus antsingy''
***
Ankarana Special Reserve tufted-tailed rat, ''Eliurus carletoni''
***
Ellerman's tufted-tailed rat, ''Eliurus ellermani''
***
Daniel's tufted-tailed rat, ''Eliurus danieli''
***
Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat, ''Eliurus grandidieri''
***
Major's tufted-tailed rat, ''Eliurus majori''
***
Lesser tufted-tailed rat, ''Eliurus minor''
***
Dormouse tufted-tailed rat, ''Eliurus myoxinus''
***
White-tipped tufted-tailed rat, ''Eliurus penicillatus''
***
Petter's tufted-tailed rat
Petter's tufted-tailed rat (''Eliurus petteri'') is a rodent in the genus '' Eliurus'' found in lowland eastern Madagascar. First described in 1994, it is most closely related to the smaller '' Eliurus grandidieri''. Virtually nothing is known of ...
, ''Eliurus petteri''
***
Tanala tufted-tailed rat, ''Eliurus tanala''
***
Webb's tufted-tailed rat
Webb's tufted-tailed rat (''Eliurus webbi'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found only in Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss
Habitat destruction (a ...
, ''Eliurus webbi''
**Genus ''
Gymnuromys
The voalavoanala (''Gymnuromys roberti'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Gymnuromys''. It is found only in Madagascar. Its natural habitat is tropical dry forest
The tropical and subtrop ...
''
***
Voalavoanala, ''Gymnuromys roberti''
**Genus ''
Hypogeomys
''Hypogeomys'' is a genus of rodents in the family Nesomyidae, found in Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), ...
''
***
Votsovotsa (Malagasy giant rat), ''Hypogeomys antimena''
**Genus ''
Macrotarsomys'' - big-footed mice
***
Bastard big-footed mouse
The bastard big-footed mouse (''Macrotarsomys bastardi'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found only in Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagas ...
, ''Macrotarsomys bastardi''
***
Greater big-footed mouse, ''Macrotarsomys ingens''
***
Petter's big-footed mouse, ''Macrotarsomys petteri''
**Genus ''
Monticolomys''
***
Malagasy mountain mouse
The Malagasy mountain mouse or Koopman's montane voalavo (''Monticolomys koopmani'') is a rodent within the subfamily Nesomyinae of the family Nesomyidae. It is monotypic within the genus ''Monticolomys'', and is closely related to the big-foote ...
, ''Monticolomys koopmani''
**Genus ''
Nesomys
''Nesomys'', also called red forest rats, is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found only on Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; ...
''
***
White-bellied nesomys
The white-bellied nesomys (''Nesomys audeberti''), also known as the lowland red forest rat, is a species of rat endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasika ...
, ''Nesomys audeberti''
***
Western nesomys
The western nesomys (''Nesomys lambertoni''), also known as the lowland red forest rat, is a species of rat endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, l ...
, ''Nesomys lambertoni''
***
Island mouse
The island mouse or eastern red forest rat (''Nesomys rufus'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It is endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Mada ...
, ''Nesomys rufus''
**Genus ''
Voalavo
''Voalavo'' is a genus of rodent in the subfamily Nesomyinae, found only in Madagascar. Two species are known, both of which occur in mountain forest above 1250 m (4100 ft) altitude; the northern voalavo lives in northern Madagascar an ...
''
***
Eastern voalavo
The eastern voalavo (''Voalavo antsahabensis'') is a rodent in the family Nesomyidae which occurs in the Anjozorobe forest of eastern Madagascar. Although surveys before 2002 failed to record the species, it is common in some places. However, it i ...
, ''Voalavo antsahabensis''
***
Northern voalavo
The northern voalavo (''Voalavo gymnocaudus''), also known as the naked-tailed voalavo or simply the voalavo, is a rodent in the family Nesomyidae found in the Northern Highlands of Madagascar. Discovered in 1994 and formally described in 1998, it ...
, ''Voalavo gymnocaudus''
*Subfamily
Petromyscinae
''Petromyscus'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is so distinct from other rodents that it is placed as the only genus in subfamily Petromyscinae. In previous classifications, '' Delanymys brooksi'' has also been placed in the s ...
- African rock mice
**Genus ''
Petromyscus
''Petromyscus'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is so distinct from other rodents that it is placed as the only genus in subfamily Petromyscinae. In previous classifications, ''Delanymys brooksi'' has also been placed in the su ...
''
***
Barbour's rock mouse, ''Petromyscus barbouri''
***
Pygmy rock mouse, ''Petromyscus collinus''
***
Brukkaros pygmy rock mouse, ''Petromyscus monticularis''
***
Shortridge's rock mouse, ''Petromyscus shortridgei''
References
*
*
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q133021
Rodent families
Extant Miocene first appearances
Taxa named by Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major