Tumbala climbing rat

Tylomys tumbalensis is an entity belonging to the climbing nature of the New world rats and closely related to the naked-tailed rat - climbing. She is known only from a single locality in the tropical forests of Chiapas and is classified as threatened with extinction.

Physique

The total length of a young but full-grown specimen of Tylomys tumbalensis is 448 mm, tail length 234 millimeters and 46 millimeters Hinterfußlänge. The fur of the upper side is dark gray and is towards the center clearly blackish. The body sides are brown and the bottom is livid and tawny - washy. The chin, the chest and part of the inguinal region are white and the toes are dark brown. The front half of the tail is blackish, the back is yellow.

The skull of Tylomys tumbalensis is large, long and flattened. Unlike the nude rat -tail climbing the upper jaw teeth measuring more than 9.1 mm. The bullae are in contrast to those of Tylomys bullaris not noticeably bloated and have a noticeable bulge on front. According to Merriam (1901 ) the skull is less massive and more slender than that of the naked-tailed rat - climbing. The snout and the nasal bones are much slimmer, the bullae are slightly larger, the upper incisors are thin and narrow and the back teeth with a length of 9.5 millimeters compared very large and heavy.

Distribution, habitat and stock

The distribution area of Tylomys tumbalensis located in Chiapas, Mexico, where the species only from a copy of Tumbalá is known. Originally, it was the discovery area around the tropical forest but which is now cut down to very small pieces of original vegetation completely.

The World Conservation Union IUCN classified Tylomys a tumbalensis 2008 as threatened with extinction. This was justified by the limited availability and the likelihood of a strong stock decline, caused by the complete disappearance of the original habitat due to conversion to agricultural area. 1996, the species was also classified as threatened with extinction. In Mexico, it is protected by law (NOM - 059_ECOL -2001).

Systematics and Nomenclature

Tylomys tumbalensis is usually performed as an independent species, but the naked-tailed rat - climbing could be classified as subspecies. The type specimen is from Tumbalá from a height of 1700 meters and was built in 1901 by Clinton Hart Merriam tumbalensis described as Tylomys.