''Saxatilomys paulinae'' is a species of
murid 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 ...
native to central Laos and Vietnam, separated to a monotypic genus ''Saxatilomys''. It was first discovered in the
Khammouan Limestone National Biodiversity Conservation Area
The Phou Hin Poun National Biodiversity Conservation Area, formerly known as the Khammouane Limestone National Biodiversity Conservation Area, is one of 21 National Biodiversity Conservation Areas of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Located i ...
in
Khammouan Province, Laos, and also been found in the Vietnamese province of
Quang Bình.
It is the only known species in the genus ''Saxatilomys''.
[ The genus name is derived from the Latin ''saxatilis'', meaning "among the rocks" and the Greek ''mys'', meaning mouse or rat.]
Description
It resembles, and is likely closely related to, species in the genera ''Niviventer
''Niviventer'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Southeast Asia. It contains the following species:
* Anderson's white-bellied rat, ''Niviventer andersoni''
* Brahma white-bellied rat, ''Niviventer brahma''
* '' Niviventer ...
'' and '' Chiromyscus''. ''Saxatilomys'' is distinguished from these and other Indomalayan genera by "semispinous dark gray upperparts, dark frosted gray underparts, large, extremely bulbous footpads, and a combination of derived and primitive cranial and dental traits".[
]
Habitat
It is thought to be petricolous and has only been observed in forested, rocky limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
habitats.[
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q19947185, from2=Q141405
Old World rats and mice
Rodents of Laos
Rodents of Vietnam
Mammals described in 2005
Rodent genera
Taxa named by Guy Musser