Hydromys
Gold belly swimming rat ( Hydromys chrysogaster )
The swimming rats ( Hydromys ) are disseminated in Australia and New Guinea genus of aquatic rodents from the group of Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ) in the strict sense.
General
With a body length of 12 to 35 centimeters and a tail about as long here are some rather delicate species, but also some for Altweltmäuse relatively large animals. The fur of the swimming rats is dark brown, yellow brown or gray at the top, the bottom is bright orange to brown. As adaptations to aquatic life they have a streamlined body, eyes located high up on the head and broad, provided with little webbed feet.
Swimming rats are native to Australia and New Guinea. They live along river banks and lakes, and in swamps. In the bank they create a building which is lined with plant material. At dusk, they go on the hunt for fish and aquatic insects; addition also crustaceans, frogs, turtles and birds are captured.
System
Within the Altweltmäuse the swimming rats are the namesake of the Hydromys - generic group, a predominantly widespread in New Guinea group often wasserbewohnender rodents, the next nor the Monckton - swimming rats ( Crossomys ), the mountain swimming rats ( Parahydromys ), the Guinea - mountain water rats ( Paraleptomys ) and the genera Baiyankamys and Microhydromys covers. No close relationship exists, however, to the South American fish rats that have experienced very similar characteristic values in convergent evolution.
The genus includes four species
- The gold belly swimming rat ( Hydromys chrysogaster ) is native to many parts of Australia and New Guinea and the southern Moluccas.
- The Western swimming rat ( Hydromys hussoni ) lives in the western and central New Guinea.
- The New Britain - floating rat ( Hydromys neobritannicus ) occurs on the island of New Britain.
- Hydromys ziegleri was described by the slipway in 2005, the species is known only from one locality in northern New Guinea.
Two other species, Hydromys Habbema and H. shawmayeri are now managed as a separate genus Baiyankamys.