Father Basilio's striped mouse
Basil strips mouse ( Hybomys basilii ) is a rodent species from the genus of strip mice ( Hybomys ). It is endemic to the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea. It was originally described as a subspecies of the single strip mouse ( Hybomys univittatus ), but, in 1985, the status of an independent Art The specific epithet honors the Spanish zoologists Padre Aurelio Basilio, the long time conducted research in Equatorial Guinea.
Features
Basil strips mouse is the largest species of the strips mice. It reaches a head-body length of 118-160 mm, the males are slightly larger than females. The tail length is 90 to 132 mm, the Hinterfußlänge 29 to 33 mm, the ear length 15 to 20 mm and weight 70 to 95 g The skull length is 33.4 to 37.8 mm and the width of the skull from 15.5 to 18.4 mm. The entire length of the upper row of teeth of the first cutting tooth and a third molar of 5.9 to 6.7 mm. The coat is long, soft and shiny. The back fur is dark mottled reddish- brown and light yellowish brown. The hairs are gray at the base and black at the tip or there is a yellowish-brown Subterminalband with black hair. About the middle of the back runs a black Dorsalstreifen that is unclear to tail the base. The peritoneum is whitish - gray, which is usually to middle abdomen batches have a lighter hair. The base of the abdominal hair is gray, the tips are off- white or light gray.
Habitat
Basil strips mouse inhabits closed forests and forest edges with a dense vegetation cover on Bonyoma and the Pico Basile at altitudes 450-2000 m.
Way of life
The lifestyle is barely explored. The species is ground -dwelling and predominantly nocturnal. However, activities during the day are also known. Two pregnant females were discovered in October and in December. The litter size is one to two pups.
Status
Basil strips mouse is by the IUCN in the category of " highly endangered" ( endangered ). The species is known only from 36 specimens that Martin Eisentraut had collected from October to December 1962 at Moca Valley on Fernando Poo (now Bioko ). Currently, no information about the population trend, he probably is decreasing. Most of the mountain forest habitat has been destroyed by logging, clearing for the investment of cocoa plantations and other agricultural activities ( crops, grazing livestock ). Further research is needed to determine if and where the species still survives further. Should it appear even smaller the area of distribution than previously thought, the way could be in the category of " threatened with extinction " ( critically endangered ) will be upgraded. Should further searches fail after this type, a classification would be " extinct " in the categories ( extinct ) conceivable.