Sumichrast's vesper rat

Nyctomys sumichrasti (right)

The vesper rat ( Nyctomys sumichrasti ) is a living in Central America rodent species from the group of the New world.

Vesper rats reach a body length 11-13 inches, added the 9 to 16 centimeters long tail. My weight is around 40 to 60 grams. The short, dense fur is cinnamon on top or brownish in color, the belly and feet are white. The small ears are sparsely hairy, the tail slightly bushy. Each eye is surrounded by a dark ring.

The distribution of Vesper rat extends from southern Mexico to Panama - but lacks the kind, on the Yucatán Peninsula. Their habitat are forests where they almost exclusively resides on the trees and hardly ever comes to the floor. The hind feet are adapted to this way of life. The animals build nests of twigs and are likely to be exclusively nocturnal. Their diet consists of seeds, fruits and other plant material.

After 30 to 38 days gestation, the female gives birth to an average of two pups. According to observations wore an animal within seven months five litters from which reproduction should take place throughout the year. The maximum age of an animal in captivity was five years.

Little is known about the level of danger. The IUCN lists them as not at risk.

The next of kin of Vespers rat is the Yucatán vesper rat, otherwise it is in the scheme of the New world largely isolated. It is classified in the subfamily of Tylomyinae, but this is uncertain.