Neacomys

The spiked rice rats ( Neacomys ) are a living in South America rodent genus from the group of New world. They comprise eight species.

Sting rice rats are relatively small New world, they reach a body length 6-10 cm, the tail is about as long. A weight is only for N. guianae known, the type weighs around 20 grams. The coat consists of a mixture of bristly, spiky hair and soft hair. The spiky hair are often on the back, rarely on the flanks and belly, they are completely absent. The fur color varies from reddish brown to light brown, the belly is lighter, usually whitish.

Sting rice rats live in Panama and in South America until the middle Brazil and Bolivia. They live mainly in forests, sometimes they are also found in the bush and even near fields.

Systematics of rice rats sting

We distinguish eight species, four of which have been described recently.

• Neacomys dubosti was not described until 2001. The species lives in eastern Suriname, French Guiana and northeastern Brazil ( Amapá ).
• Neacomys guianae is in Venezuela, home to the three countries of Guyana and northern Brazil.
• Neacomys minutus is based on current knowledge before only in the area of ​​Juruá River in western Brazil. The species was not described until 2000.
• Neacomys musseri was also first described in 2000. She also lives in Southeast Peru and western Brazil on Juruá.
• Neacomys Paracou is in Venezuela, the Guiana - three states and Northeast Brazil widespread. The species was first described in 2001.
• Neacomys pictus is only known from the eastern Panama.
• Neacomys spinosus lives in western Brazil, Southeast Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
• Neacomys tenuipes is native to Colombia and Venezuela.

None of the species is endangered according to IUCN, the four youngest species are not yet listed.

Sting rice rats are similar to the spines strong dwarf rice rats ( Oligoryzomys ), but genetic studies show that they are closer to the small Treis rats ( Microryzomys ) related.