Nesoryzomys

The Galápagos rice rats ( Nesoryzomys ) are a living on the Galápagos Islands rodent genus of the group of the New world. They include four species, of which at least one is already extinct. They are closely related to the rice rats ( Orizyomys ) and are sometimes incorporated into this genus.

These animals can reach a body length 10-20 cm and a tail length of 8 to 14 inches. The coat is colored black gray, brownish or reddish depending on the type, characteristic is the elongated snout.

Galápagos rice rats are nocturnal and use rock crevices or burrows as shelters. Otherwise, little is known about their way of life. The extinction of most species is probably with the introduction of hiking and house rats in context. The holdings on the island of Fernandina, where there are no rats are still present.

There are four types:

• The Darwin rice rat ( Nesoryzomys darwini ) occurred on Santa Cruz and was last seen in 1930. It is considered extinct.
• Nesoryzomys fernandinae lives in Fernandina. Until the 1990s it was known only from owl pellets, then several dead animals were discovered.
• Nesoryzomys indefessus was located on Santa Cruz Island ( subspecies indefessus ) and Fernandina ( subspecies narboroughi ). In Santa Cruz it was last seen in 1934 and is considered extinct, on Fernandina they are still prevalent. The local subspecies is sometimes performed as a separate species ( Nesoryctes narboroughi ).
• Nesoryzomys swarthi is endemic to San Salvador.