Phloeomys

Phloeomys pallidus

The Giants Borken rats ( Phloeomys ) are a rodent species belonging to the family of long-tailed mice ( Muridae ). They live in the Philippines and are the largest living members of this family. There are two types, Phloeomys cumingi and Phloeomys pallidus.

Features

Borken giant rats reach a body length 28-48 inches, including another 20 to 35 centimeters long tail comes. The weight is around 1.5 to 2 kilograms. The coat is long and patterned. The top is black or brown in color, sometimes mottled yellowish or reddish. The underside and sometimes the flanks are whitish- gray; also the head can be colored partially brighter. The tail is solid black hairy, but not bushy. The ears are small and round and the muzzle blunt. The enlarged paws with long toes and claws make an adjustment to an arboreal lifestyle Specify the type P. pallidus is somewhat lighter colored and has a softer coat than P. cumingi; however, it is unclear whether this is actually a separate species or merely a local or seasonal variation.

Distribution and habitat

Borken giant rats are endemic to the Philippines, they inhabit the island of Luzon and smaller offshore islands. Their habitat are forests where they occur both in the sea and in the mountains.

Way of life

Borken giant rats are nocturnal. During the day they sleep in hollow logs or in burrows that they have taken over from other animals. At night, they go in search of food; They are skillful climbers and in compliance with most of the trees. According to reports, they live in pairs or in small family groups.

Little is known about the diet in the wild, they are likely to mainly plant material to take there. Animals in captivity have next to insects and other animals eaten, how they eat this food in the wild is not known.

Reproduction

Also concerning reproduction little is known. Females have only one pair of teats, in contrast to most other long-tailed mice. Accordingly outweigh single births, probably fall most births in the end of the rainy season, about December.

Endangering

Borken giant rats are relatively adaptable animals that are often found near human dwellings. They are hunted for their meat in many regions and are expected to a certain extent also suffer from the destruction of their habitat. The IUCN lists P. cumingi as threatened ( vulnerable ) and P. pallidus as not threatened.

System

The Giants Borken rats form according to Wilson & Reeder (2005 ) together with three other Philippine mice genres - Philippines - hair tail rats ( Batomys ), Luzon Tree Rat ( Carpomys ) and Borken climbers ( Crateromys ) has its own generic group ( " Phloeomys Division " ) within the Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ). This group is the sister group of all other Altweltmäuse and possibly represents the relic of a once more widespread rodent group

Genetic studies of Lecompte et al. (2008) have confirmed this position. This is the previously stated hypothesis of a taxon " Borken rats ", the next example, even the clover tooth giant rats ( Lenomys ), the prehensile tail rats ( Pogonomys ), the giant tree rats ( Mallomys ) or the brush -tailed tree mice ( Chiropodomys ) included, become definitively obsolete.