Pithecheir

The Affenfußratten ( Pithecheir ) are a rodent species from the group of Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ). The genus includes three species.

General

Affenfußratten reach a body length 12-18 centimeters and additionally there is a 16 to 22 centimeters long tail. My weight is around 60 to 150 grams. Her long, soft fur is reddish brown on the back, the belly is white. The hind legs are adapted to arboreal life, the first toe is like a thumb developed and opponierbar, the thumb is, however, very small. The long tail can be used as a prehensile tail.

These rodents live in Southeast Asia, they inhabit the Malay Peninsula and Java. Their habitat are dense forests to 1600 meters above sea level. They are nocturnal and pull during the day in round, homemade sheets nests back, which they build in forks of branches or tree hollows. They are skillful climbers and usually live on trees. Their diet consists of green plant material.

System

The Affenfußratten are, according to Wilson & Reeder (2005) named the Pithecheir - generic group, a Southeast Asian radiation of Altweltmäuse, the next nor the Sulawesi - soft rats ( Eropeplus ), the clover tooth giant rats ( Lenomys ), the horror tree rats ( Lenothrix ), Margareta rats ( Margaretamys ) and the type Pithecheirops otion includes,

There are known two types:

• Pithecheir melanurus only occurs in the western part of the island of Java.
• Pithecheir parvus lives on the Malay Peninsula.

P. melanurus is listed by the IUCN as endangered ( vulnerable ), for P. parvus there are no accurate data.