Hapalomys

The Asian climbing rats ( Hapalomys ) are a rodent species from the group of Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ). The genus includes two species.

General

Asian climbing rats reach a body length 12-17 inches, including another 14 to 20 centimeters long tail comes. The soft, dense fur is colored on the top red-gray to gray- brown, the underparts, including the paws are white. The long tail is sparsely hairy, the paws are adapted to the climbing way of life: the toes are long, the first toe is opponierbar.

These rodents are native to Southeast Asia, their range extends from southern China to the Malay Peninsula. Their habitat is tropical rainforests. You can climb well and keep mostly to the trees. During the day, they retreat into a self- made ​​nest at night, they go in search of food. At least one kind, H. longicaudatus, usually holds on to bamboo plants and is building their nests in hollow stems. Their diet consists of shoots, flowers and fruits.

System

According to Wilson & Reeder ( 2005), the Asian climbing rats are part of the Micromys group within the Altweltmäuse. Lecompte et al. (2008) doubt this arrangement and lead the genus incertae sedis under, that is, with an unclear stand

There are two types:

• Hapalomys delacouri lives in southern China (including Hainan Island ) and northern Vietnam and Laos.
• Hapalomys longicaudatus is widespread only a few locations from southern Myanmar and Thailand to the Malay Peninsula.

Main threat to the Asian climbing rats, the destruction of their habitat represents the IUCN lists H. longicaudatus as " critically endangered " ( endangered ) and H. delacouri considered "at risk " ( vulnerable ).