Steatomys

The fat mice ( Steatomys ) are a genus of tree mice. With the exception of the central African rain forests are widespread in most tracts of land in Africa south of the Sahara.

Appearance

Fat mice reach a head -body length of 6.5 to 14.5 cm and a tail length of 3.4 to 5.9 cm. The dense, short fur varies oberseits in various brown or sand-colored hues, often with black sub- mixture. The underside is white. The sparsely haired tail is thick and tapers towards the end. He is in most species the upper side brown and white sub- hand. Characteristic is the plump physique and relatively large, round ears. Most species have four teats, some even more.

Way of life

Fat mice are nocturnal soil animals, they live in deep burrows with a boiler. This serves as a food store, but also as a nest chamber. The diet consists of plant parts and insects. Before the start of the dry season, the time when food is scarce, the fat mice feed on a very thick layer of fat. During the dry season, keep a rest or sleep dry.

Species

Originally least 18 species of this genus have been described. In the meantime, however, only three species have been recognized. Wilson and Reeder (2005) distinguish eight species, but sometimes ( especially S. pratensis and S. parvus ) require a revision.

• Steatomys bocagei: This very large species inhabits humid savannah and humid forests of central Angola to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The eastern limit of distribution is unclear. It differs by the four teats of S. pratensis, to which it was previously temporarily expected.
• Steatomys caurinus: Has six or more teats, West Africa inhabited by Senegal over southern Mali and Ghana to Central Nigeria.
• Steatomys cuppedius Come in Senegal, north-central Nigeria, and South-Central Niger ago, circulation area not exactly known.
• Steatomys jacksoni: Known only from the type area of the copy in Ghana. Perhaps the species occurs also in Togo and southwest Nigeria.
• Steatomys krebsii: This relatively small species is characterized by a long tail and narrow hind legs. They are found in southwest Angola, Namibia ( Caprivi Strip ), Western Zambia, North Botswana and northeastern South Africa.
• Steatomys opimus: Resembles S. bocagei, but has five pairs of teats. It is common in the humid savannah and forest margins of Cameroon through the south of the Central African Republic and the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south-western Sudan.
• Steatomys parvus: Comes in Southern Sudan and in eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia south through Somalia and Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to southwestern Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe before.
• Steatomys pratensis: The females of this species usually have six or more teats. Southern and Eastern Africa from Angola and northern Namibia eastwards through Botswana, Zimbabwe, northern South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania to Ethiopia.