Myomyscus

Myomyscus (formerly Myomys ) is a rodent species from the group of Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ). The genus includes four species.

These rodents reach a body length 8-12 cm, additionally there is an 8 to 15 cm long tail. My weight is 20 to 45 grams. Their fur is colored on the top yellow gray to black-gray, the underside is white or light gray. The head is pointed, the ears are large and rounded, and the tail is longer than the trunk.

The animals are common in Arabia as well as in Eastern and Southern Africa. Their habitat are rather dry savannah and bush country, sometimes forests. They are nocturnal and usually stay on the ground. Your diet is variable, both insects and green plant parts can stand on their menu.

According to the IUCN, none of the four species is endangered.

System

The systematics of this genus is not without controversy. Wilson and Reeder (2005) lists four ways:

• Myomyscus angolensis lives in western Angola.
• Myomyscus brockmani is distributed from southern Sudan to Tanzania.
• Myomyscus verreauxii is endemic in the southwestern South Africa.
• Myomyscus yemeni inhabited the south-western Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

Several other species that were formerly included in this genus, are now listed in Mastomys or Stenocephalemys. Since the type species of the genus was slammed Myomys a different genus, a change of the generic name was necessary.

Within the Altweltmäuse the genus is part of the Stenocephalemys group.