''Paucidentomys'' is a
genus of
rodents of a type commonly known as shrew-rats which was discovered in 2012 in a remote rainforest on the
Indonesian island,
Sulawesi
Sulawesi (), also known as Celebes (), is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the world's eleventh-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Mindanao and the Sulu Ar ...
. The genus is
monotypic, consisting of the species ''Paucidentomys vermidax'', or the edented Sulawesi rat. The
Latin name may also be translated to its other common name "few-toothed worm-eating rat", referring to the fact that they have only two teeth and may live exclusively on a diet of
earthworms.
Description
''Paucidentomys vermidax'' is larger than ''
Melasmothrix naso
The Sulawesian shrew rat (''Melasmothrix naso'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus ''Melasmothrix''.
It is found only in central Sulawesi
Sulawesi (), also known as Celebes (), is an island i ...
'', ''
Sommeromys macrorhinos
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. macrorhi ...
'' and ''
Tateomys macrocercus
The long-tailed shrew rat (''Tateomys macrocercus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found only in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, where it is known only from Mount Nokilalaki in Sigi Regency
Sigi Regency is a regency of Central ...
'', similar in size to ''
Tateomys rhinogradoides
Tate's shrew rat (''Tateomys rhinogradoides'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found only in central Sulawesi, Indonesia, where it has been recorded on Mount Latimodjong (Mount Rantemario), Mount Tokala, and Mount Nokilalaki. ...
'', smaller than ''
Rhynchomys soricoides
The Mount Data shrew-rat (''Rhynchomys soricoides'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found only in the Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Repub ...
'' and substantially smaller than species of ''
Echiothrix''. The face is more elongate than that of any other Sulawesi shrew-rat, but similar in this regard to ''
Rhynchomys''. It has a very long
rostrum (relative to other Sulawesi shrew-rats), small eyes, large ears, a soft
pelage and a long, thick, hairy and
dorsoventral
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...
ly bicoloured tail.
Unique dentition
''Paucidentomys vermidax'' is the only known rodent with no
molars, which is an adaptation to its diet which may be exclusively
earthworms (it appears to be a specialist
vermivore based on the stomach contents of one individual). Moreover, rather than gnawing
incisors, this animal has
bicuspid
The premolars, also called premolar Tooth (human), teeth, or bicuspids, are transitional teeth located between the Canine tooth, canine and Molar (tooth), molar teeth. In humans, there are two premolars per dental terminology#Quadrant, quadrant in ...
upper incisors, which is also unique among the more than 2,200 species of rodents. The upper incisors are short with an anterior cusp and slightly inferior posterior cusp; these cusps are connected by a sharp, concave cutting edge at the
lateral margin of the tooth. The
pterygoid plate is absent. The
dentary is long and delicate, lacking significant muscle attachment points. The lower incisors are unicuspid, procumbent, sharp and delicate.
Its
dental formula is .
Distribution
''Paucidentomys vermidax'' is known from Mount Gandangdewata and
Mount Latimojong in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
[
]
Etymology
The generic name combines the Latin ''paucus'' (few) with ''dentis'' (tooth) and the Greek ''mys'' (mouse) in reference to the lack of molars. The epithet is a hybrid of ''vermi'' (worm) and ''edax'' (devourer), in reference to the animal's diet.
References
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q18643215, from2=Q148559
Muridae
Endemic fauna of Indonesia
Rodents of Sulawesi
Mammals described in 2012
Old World rats and mice