Melomys

Melomys cervinipes

The mosaic tail rats ( Melomys ) are a rodent species from the group of Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ). The genus includes 23 species.

Features

Mosaic tail rats reach a body length 9-18 inches, added a 11 to 20 centimeters long tail. My weight varies between 30 and 200 grams. Their fur is soft and woolly, it is usually brown or reddish brown in color at the top, the underside is white or beige. Named giving feature is the hairless tail with scales that have the form of a mosaic. This mosaic form differs significantly from the ringed scales that are about the rats.

Dissemination and lifestyle

Mosaic pack rats are spread from the eastern Indonesia over New Guinea to Australia. Habitat of most species are forests, there are also some live in grasslands animals. They are primarily bottom dwellers but can climb well. Sometimes they build their nests in the branches, but more often in the roots or in hollow tree trunks. Thither they retire during the day, they are nocturnal. The food of these animals consists of fruits, berries and other plant material.

Endangering

The high number of Inselendemiten ensures a high number of endangered species. Several species are " critically endangered " by the IUCN ( critically endangered ), " high risk " ( endangered ) or "endangered" ( vulnerable ) out. For some other species lacked data. Only 9 of the 23 species are not endangered IUCN - details see list below.

The types

There are 23 known species ( Wilson & Reeder, 2005):

• Melomys aerosus lives on Seram and is considered " critically endangered ".
• Melomys arcium is on Rossel, an island off the southeast coast of New Guinea endemic. Your level of danger is unknown.
• Melomys bannisteri occurs on the Kai Islands and is also " high risk ".
• Melomys Bougainville inhabited the island of Bougainville. Your level of danger is unknown.
• The Prairie Melomys ( Melomys burtoni ) lives in grasslands in northern and eastern Australia and southern New Guinea.
• Melomys capensis is located at the top of the Australian Cape York Peninsula.
• Melomys caurinus inhabited the Talaud Islands and is considered " critically endangered ".
• Melomys cervinipes lives in eastern Australia.
• Melomys cooperae is endemic to Yamdena, their level of vulnerability is unknown.
• Melomys dollmani inhabited the eastern New Guinea.
• Melomys fraterculus occurs only on Seram. The species is " threatened with extinction ".
• Melomys frigicola lives in mountainous regions in the western New Guinea.
• Melomys fulgens is known only from two specimens that were found on Seram. Your level of danger is unknown.
• Melomys howi is on Riama, one of Tanimbarese Islands, endemic. Your level of danger is unknown.
• Melomys leucogaster occurs in New Guinea.
• Melomys lutillus inhabits grasslands in New Guinea.
• Melomys matambuai is endemic to the island of Manus and is " critically endangered ".
• Melomys obiensis inhabited the Obi Islands.
• Melomys Pavelic is known only from one location on Seram. Your level of danger is unclear.
• Melomys rubicola is on Bramble Cay, one of the Torres Strait Islands, endemic. The species is " threatened with extinction ".
• Melomys rufescens lives throughout New Guinea.
• The Buka mosaic rat tail ( Melomys spechti ) inhabited the island of Buka. The species is extinct.
• Melomys talaudium occurs on two of the Talaud Islands and is considered " critically endangered ".

Some other species that have been previously listed in this genus are now classified in the genera Mammelomys, Paramelomys and Protochromys.

Systematically, the genus within the Altweltmäuse is classified in the Uromys group.