Nesomyinae

Votsotsa ( Hypogeomys antimena )

  • Madagascar White-tailed rats ( Brachytarsomys )
  • Madagascar Großfußmäuse ( Macrotarsomys )
  • Island rats ( Nesomys )
  • Voalavoanalas ( Gymnuromys )
  • Bilchschwänze ( Eliurus )
  • Madagascar - short-tailed rats ( Brachyuromys )
  • Votsotsas ( Hypogeomys )
  • Monticolomys
  • Voalavo

The Madagascar rats ( Nesomyinae ) are a group of rodents that are considered sub-family of Nesomyidae. This group approximately 25 species are counted in nine genera, all of which live exclusively on Madagascar, where they are naturally the only representatives of the mice -like ( Muroidea ).

Features

Madagascar rats have colonized several habitats and accordingly developed various body shapes. The Votsotsa, the largest representative of this group is similar in physique and way of life of a rabbit, and there are race- mouse-like species such as the Madagascar Großfußmäuse, wühlmausähnliche species like the Madagascar - short-tailed rats and rat-like agent as the island of rats and the Voalavoanala. The dental formula of all kinds is 1/1-0/0-0/0-3/3, so overall they have 16 teeth. Your body length varies 9-35 inches and their weight 25-1500 grams.

Way of life

So varied as the body shapes are also ways of life of Madagascar rats. There are ground-based and tree-dwelling species, some animals also build underground burrows, which serve them as places to sleep and as a food warehouse. Most members are active at night.

All Madagascar rats are exclusively herbivores that feed on fruits, seeds, berries and stems. About the reproduction and social behavior is in most species, little is known. However, they play an important ecological role as prey for snakes, birds of prey and Malagasy predators.

Many species are endangered, especially by the introduction of real rats and mice to Madagascar that make the endemic rodents their habitat in dispute. Also, the destruction of their habitat poses a threat to some species dar.

System

Because of their morphological differences keeping the Madagascan rats previously sometimes for unrelated and ordered them to different groups of mice -like. Today, the monophyly of this group is clearly demonstrated by molecular genetic studies. Also, about the relationship of this group to other Nagetiertaxa there has long been unclear.

As a regular group of rats Madagascar Nagetierklade an extinct Miocene was often seen that Afrocricetodontidae that were native to East Africa. While they were relegated to the mainland by other rodent groups and extinct, they remained on the isolated island of Madagascar among themselves. Recently, the Madagascar - rats are combined due to molecular genetic studies with some pure African Nagetiertaxa in the family of Nesomyidae.

The following genera are distinguished:

  • Madagascar White-tailed rats ( Brachytarsomys )
  • Madagascar Großfußmäuse ( Macrotarsomys )
  • Island rats ( Nesomys )
  • Voalavoanalas ( Gymnuromys )
  • Bilchschwänze ( Eliurus )
  • Madagascar - short-tailed rats ( Brachyuromys )
  • Votsotsas ( Hypogeomys )
  • Monticolomys
  • Voalavo
Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major Genus Don E. Wilson
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