Shrewlike rat

Rhynchomys soricoides ( below)

The nose rats ( Rhynchomys ) are a rodent species from the group of Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ). The genus includes four species.

Nose rats are rather large, shrew -like animals. The body length is, as far as known, 18 to 22 inches, the tail measures 11 to 15 centimeters. The dense, short fur is dark gray on top and whitish - light gray on the belly. The tail is hairy, the muzzle is elongated and the eyes are very small. The rearmost molar is degenerated, the remaining molars are very small.

These rodents are native to the Philippines, their habitat is forests in mountainous regions. They are nocturnal and feed mainly on earthworms and insects. Otherwise, little is known about their way of life.

There are four types:

• Rhynchomys Banahao is known only from the region around the Mounts Banahaw - San Cristobal National Park on Luzon.
• Rhynchomys isarogensis inhabited the area around the mountain Isarog in the southeastern Luzon.
• Rhynchomys soricoides lives in the north of the island of Luzon.
• Rhynchomys tapulao is known only from the region around Mount Tapulao on Luzon.

The nose rats are threatened by the destruction of their habitat. The IUCN lists R. isarogensis considered "at risk " ( vulnerable ) and R. soricoides as "low risk" ( near threatened ), for the other two species to too little data is available.

Systematically, the genus Rhynchomys considered part of the Chrotomys group, a living only in the Philippines Radiation of Altweltmäuse.