Sommer's Sulawesi rat

Sommer's Sulawesi rat (''Sommeromys macrorhinos'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae from Sulawesi. It is the only species in the monotypic genus ''Sommeromys'' and was described by Musser & Durden in 2002.

Distribution

''S. macrorhinos'' is known from only one specimen, AMNH 226956 (American Museum of Natural History, catalogue number 226956). This specimen was caught at 2400 m above sea level on Gunung Tokala, a mountain between the Rampi and Seko valleys in the province of Sulawesi Tengah, in primary mossy forest which was somewhat disturbed by human activities. The describers expected that the genus also occurs in other high montane forests of Sulawesi.

It is also found on Mount Gandangdewata, West Sulawesi.

Discovery

On the first of August, 1973, the NAMRU team that would discover ''S. macrorhinos'' reached Gunung Tokala. Despite a heavy, cold rain, someone set some Victor rat traps and found one specimen each of ''Tateomys rhinogradoides'' and ''S. macrorhinos'' the following day. On the specimen of ''S. macrorhinos'', a louse was found, which was also a new species, '' Hoplopleura sommeri''.

Sommer's Sulawesi rat was named after Helmut G. Sommer, Scientific Technician at the American Museum of Natural History.

Characteristics

Sommer's Sulawesi rat is extremely small and has a long muzzle and an extremely long tail, both absolutely and relatively. It mainly feeds on insects. The stomach of the only known specimen contained some nematodes, fly eggs, and fragments of insects. Species of '' Bunomys'', '' Paruromys'', and ''Taeromys'' do not share the diagnostic characteristics of ''Sommeromys'' and are larger. ''Haeromys'' species are smaller (head-body 62–78 mm, tail up to 133 mm). ''Lenomys'' and ''Eropeplus'' species are much bigger (up to 301 and 255 mm, respectively), and have a tail which is as long as head-body (''Lenomys'') or somewhat longer (''Eropeplus''). ''Margaretamys'' species are somewhat larger (96–197 mm). '' Echiothrix'' is much larger (up to 225 mm), has a prolonged muzzle and prolonged rostra and a bicolored tail (up to 258 mm). ''Melasmothrix'' has a dark chestnut fur, a short tail and paws and long claws. ''Tateomys rhinogradoides'' is larger, with a dark, brownish grey pelage, robust hind feet, and a long tail. '' T. macrocercus'' is smaller than ''T. rhinogradoides'', has a similar fur colour, but has an extremely long tail, long hind feet and narrow but long claws on the hind feet. ''Crunomys celebensis'' has a shorter and broader rostrum.

Measurements (all in mm):

Relationships

According to the discoverers, ''S. macrorhinos'' is a member of the so-called "Old Endemics
" of Sulawesi and the Philippines. It is especially related to ''Crunomys'', which lives on both Sulawesi and the Philippines and the Philippine ''Archboldomys''. The ''Melasmothrix''-''Tateomys'' group may also be related.

References

*Musser, G.G. & Durden, L.A. 2002. Sulawesi rodents: description of a new genus and species of Murinae (Muridae, Rodentia) and its parasitic new species of sucking louse (Insecta, Anoplura). ''American Museum Novitates'' 3368:1-50.

External links

PDF file of the original description of ''Sommeromys macrorhinos''

{{Taxonbar, from=Q146442

Sulawesi rat, Sommer's
Old World rats and mice
Sulawesi rat, Sommer's
Sulawesi rat, Sommer's
Mammals described in 2002