Crunomys

Crunomys fallax ( above)

The shrew rats ( Crunomys ) are a rodent species from the group of Altweltmäuse. The four species of this genus live in the Philippines and Sulawesi.

General

Shrew rats reach a body length of 10 to 13 centimeters, the tail is 7 to 9 inches. The dense, short coat is in the three Philippine species prickly, in the way in Sulawesi, however soft. Its color varies from gray to dark brown to almost black, the underside is lighter. Characteristic of the genus are the short tail and the arrangement of the arteries.

Where known, the animals live in forests, often near rivers, and are bottom dwellers.

System

Wilson & Reeder (2005) lead the shrew rats as namesake of the Crunomys genus group that acts as still living on Sulawesi kind Somme Romys macro rhinos. According to genetic studies of Lecompte et al. (2008) are the animals of the Crunomys group is part of a predominantly widespread in Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia Radiation of Altweltmäuse, the Rattini. This includes radiation nor the Crunomys group that Dacnomys group that Maxomys group that Micromys group and the Rattus group.

There are four types:

• Crunomys celebensis lives as a single species on Sulawesi, the species is only known from three specimens.
• Crunomys fallax is only known from one specimen, which was found on the Philippine island of Luzon.
• Crunomys melanius lives in Mindanao and Leyte and is the only known frequent Article
• Crunomys suncoides is only known from one specimen, which was found on Mindanao.

Because of sparse finds three of the four species by the IUCN under "too little data available " ( data deficient ) are listed, only C. melanius has the status of "endangered" ( vulnerable ).