Echimyidae
Hoplomys gymnurus
- Bamboo rats ( Dactylomyinae )
- Actual sting rats ( Echimyinae )
- Eumysopinae
- Heteropsomyinae
The sting rats ( Echimyidae ) are a family of rodents from the subordination of the porcupine relatives ( Hystricomorpha ). The family includes 22 genera with about 100 species, including several species formerly occurring on the Caribbean islands that are now extinct. The coypu or nutria counts sometimes also to this group, but usually it is in a family, Myocastoridae led.
Dissemination
Sting rats are native to Central and South America, their range extends from Honduras to Argentina and Chile.
Description
Sting rats are more small animals in comparison with other porcupine relatives in America. Most types achieve a body length from 8 to 45 centimeters and a weight of 130-800 grams. They look similar to the rats with which they are but not closely related. Named giving feature are occurring in many species spines or bristly hairs on the back and on the side, which, however, vary in strength and quality or can be completely absent. Her head is characterized by the most pointed snout, rather large eyes and round, often small ears. The dental formula is 1-0-1-3, so overall they have 20 teeth.
The fur color varies from reddish brown through gray to black in some species white stripes on the head or body exists. They have four toes on the forefeet and five toes on the hind feet, which may be shaped differently depending on the lifestyle. The length of the tail is different depending on the type, often it breaks off, which helps them escape from predators.
Way of life
Most sting rats are forest dwellers, but there occupy different biological niches. Some kinds are pure tree dwellers, who almost never come down to earth, others live exclusively on the ground. There are also grave species that live underground and build complicated gear systems. Most species live solitary and are crepuscular or nocturnal. The food also varies with the habitat, they take a wide variety of plants and parts of plants such as grasses, bamboo, roots, fruits or nuts to him.
System
The approximately 100 species of sting rats are divided into four subfamilies:
- The bamboo rats ( Dactylomyinae ) are characterized by their soft, thorn -less fur, they contain three genera.
- The authentics sting rats ( Echimyinae ) consist of six genera.
- The Eumysopinae take nine genera.
- The Heteropsomyinae take four living genera and several extinct species of the Caribbean islands.