Mastomys

Southern Much teats mouse

The Mastomys or multi teats rats ( Mastomys ) are one in the whole of Africa south of the Sahara widespread genus of Altweltmäuse. They are among the most successful rodents of the African continent, as they have colonized a variety of habitats and have become a kind to a culture follower of man.

General

Depending on the type Mastomys have a body length 6-17 inches, added a 6 ​​to 15 inch long tail. The weight is 20 to 80 grams. The coat color is brown or gray on the upper side and lower side gray or white. The shape is very similar to a real rat, and the differences are only evident in an analysis of characteristics of the skull and dentition. The name derives from the number of the teats, which can reach in some species 24, more than any other rodent. However, there are also species with a much lower teat number, M. shortridgei only 10 teats.

The natural habitats are savannas, semi-deserts and dry forests. One type has specialized in the arid Sahel region, another is endemic in the Okavango swamps. The Natal Much teats mouse is known as a cultural followers and feared as disease carriers. All Mastomys are extremely reproductive. The average number of boys in the litter is ten to twelve, but it can be up to 22 young. Two litters a year seem to be the rule.

In the Natal Much teats mouse gestation period is 23 days. The newborns weigh around 1.8 grams, open the eyes of 16 days and are weaned at three weeks, and independent.

System

In contrast to the previously held view of Mastomys only distantly related to the rights rats ( Rattus) are related. Rather, they are part of an African radiation of Altweltmäuse, the Stenocephalemys group and are considered close relatives of the African Soft rats ( Praomys ).

Wilson & Reeder (2005) lists eight types:

• The Awash Much teats mouse ( Mastomys awash ) is known only from Ethiopia.
• The Southern Much teats mouse ( Mastomys coucha ) is widespread in southern Africa.
• The Guinea Much teats mouse ( Mastomys erythroleucus ) lives in the Sahel region in the western and central Africa.
• The Hubert Much teats mouse ( Mastomys Huberti ) is distributed from Mauritania to Nigeria.
• The Verheyen frequent teats mouse ( Mastomys kollmannspergeri, formerly M. verheyeni ) in the region of Lake Chad before.
• The Natal Much teats mouse ( Mastomys natalensis ) is widespread synanthropic throughout Africa south of the Sahara.
• The dwarf Much teats mouse ( Mastomys pernanus ) is known only from a few specimens from Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
• The Shortridge frequent teats mouse ( Mastomys shortridgei ) lives in the Okavango swamps in Angola, Botswana and Namibia.

The IUCN lists the Awash Much teats mouse as "endangered" ( vulnerable ), the little - Much teats mouse under "too little data available ", the remaining six species are " not at risk " ( least concern ).

The Natal Much teats mouse

The Natal Much teats mouse has become a cultural followers of man. It is assumed that their distribution area was once limited to South Africa, where she was a resident of Savannah. In the wake of the people they then spread over the whole of Africa south of the Sahara from. Today the Natal Much teats mouse is widely used in African villages, but not in large cities. The conquest of the cities failed probably due to the competition of the superior black rats and brown rats. But in many regions of rural Africa's inventory figures of Natal Much teats mouse back today by a penetration of the brown rat. Only in the more remote villages of the multi teats mouse remains the frequent and often sole Article

Because of their proliferation rate apply Natal Mastomys as a serious pest. They inhabit human dwellings and feed on the local stores. They also transmit dreaded diseases like the plague, leptospirosis, and Lassa fever. In the case of the plague itself Mastomys may have infected even in rats that came from ships to black Africa and their rat fleas jumped on the Mastomys.