Western white-eared giant rat

The Western White Ear giant rat ( Hyomys dammermani ) is a rodent of the genus, the white ear - giant rats ( Hyomys ). It was discovered in 1931 by German zoologist George HW stone in Weylandgebirge in West New Guinea and described in 1933 as a subspecies of Goliath rat ( Hyomys goliath ). In 1993 she was awarded by Guy Musser and Michael D. Carleton species status. The species name of the Dutch zoologist Karel Willem Dammerman (1885-1951) will be honored.

Features

The Western White Ear giant rat is smaller than the Goliath rat. Females reach a head-body length of 300-322 mm, a tail length of 245-318 mm, a Hinterfußlänge 56-67 mm, an ear length of 25 to 28 mm and a weight up to 985 g was the only measured males a head-body length of 320 mm, a tail length of 273 mm, a Hinterfußlänge of 52.1 mm, an ear length of 24.7 mm and a weight of 800 g compared to Goliath rat is the tail proportionally shorter in proportion to the head-body length ( 85 to 89 percent of the Western White ear giant rat against 95 to 98 percent of the Goliath rat). In addition, the white tufts of hair missing around the ears. The guard hairs of the upper surface are gray with white Subterminalbändern. The underside is dull white. The base of the undercoat hair is gray, except for a white chest patch. The terminal two-thirds of the tail are white. The tail scales are keeled and pointed. The fur of the Western White Ear giant rat has a very distinctive smell.

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Occurrence and habitat

The distribution area of the Western White Ear giant rat extends from the Arfak Mountains to the west of West New Guinea, on the Central Cordillera and the Weylandgebirge up in the region of Mount Hagen in the east, where the Goliath rat takes its place. It is believed that further north, there are further occurrences in appropriate habitats. For this, however, further studies are still necessary. The Western White Ear giant rat inhabits tropical moist forests, forest edges and old gardens at altitudes between 1300 m and 2800 m.

Way of life

The Western White Ear giant rat inhabits burrows and is mostly bottom dwellers. Occasionally she climbs on tree stumps. She goes into dense palm grass or sword grass stocks in search of food and feeds on the grass stems. Occasionally they think of in search of sweet potatoes in adjoining forests gardens. The construction is always on the ground, often in the range of fallen trees, and especially in the area covered by sword grass stands. The Western White Ear Giant Rat brings only one young per litter was born.

Status

The IUCN lists the Western White Ear giant rat in the category of " insufficient data " ( data deficient ). Neither the distribution area nor the degree of hazard are sufficiently studied. The type could come into question because of hunting and the small litter size for the hazard categories. On the other hand, however, the distribution area could prove to be far greater and that there are no major threats, resulting in a classification in the category " not at risk " ( least concern ) would result. The species is regarded as a food source for the indigenous peoples and is hunted with dogs.