Macrotarsomys

The Madagascar Großfußmäuse ( Macrotarsomys ) is a rodent genus of the subfamily of Madagascar rats ( Nesomyinae ). The genus includes three species that live exclusively on Madagascar.

These animals have similarities to the gerbils, but with which they are not closely related. As with these, the hind legs are enlarged and they are residents of dry grasslands or forests. Their fur is colored brown on the top, the underside is whitish. Characteristic are the big ears and the extended tail that can be twice as long as the body and ends in a bushy top.

Madagascar Großfußmäuse are exclusively nocturnal and move around constantly in search of food or jumping away. During the day, they retreat into burrows, whose entrance is hidden often under a bush or a rock and can be up to 1.5 meters long. The food of these animals consists of berries, fruits, roots and stems. About the social behavior and reproduction, little is known, probably they live in pairs.

There are three types:

• Macrotarsomys bastardi is the smaller of the two species, it reaches a body length 8-10 cm, a tail length of 10-15 centimeters and a weight of 21-38 grams. It lives exclusively on the ground and is widespread in western Madagascar.

• Macrotarsomys ingens is 12 centimeters body length and up to 21 centimeters length of tail slightly greater. The species is likely to search for food more stop on trees as M. bastardi, otherwise we know very little about them. She lives in a small area in the north-western Madagascar and is threatened as much by the IUCN due to the progressive destruction of their habitat ( endangered ) listed.

• Macrotarsomys petteri was scientifically described in 2005. She is known only from a living specimen and some semi- fossil remains from the south-western Madagascar. The species is listed by IUCN with insufficient data ( data deficient ).