| Long-tailed spiny rat | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Echimyidae |
| Subfamily: | Echimyinae |
| Tribe: | Myocastorini |
| Genus: | Proechimys |
| Species: | P. longicaudatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Proechimys longicaudatus (Rengger, 1830) | |
The long-tailed spiny rat (Proechimys longicaudatus) is a spiny rat species [2] found in Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay.
The long-tailed spiny rat is a large rat with a head-and-body length of between 187 and 250 mm (7.4 and 9.8 in) and a tail length of 121 to 200 mm (4.8 to 7.9 in). The fur is less bristly than in other related species. The upper parts are a glossy chestnut colour becoming more orange on the flanks. The underparts are white, and there is a clear line separating upper and lower parts. The tail is chestnut above and pale below. [3] The tails are missing on some individuals, [4] reflecting the lizard-like ability of many echimyids to detach their tails when attacked by predators.
This species has a range in South America extending from southern Bolivia and northern Paraguay to western and central Brazil. It is terrestrial and inhabits dry primary and secondary forest, as well as cerrado and habitats with cleared areas and patches of forest. It usually occurs at altitudes below 500 m (1,600 ft) but has been recorded up to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft). [1]
A study was undertaken in Bolivia to establish which small rodents were reservoir hosts for Leishmania , the causal agent for the human disease leishmaniasis. It was found that Oryzomys nitida and Oryzomys acritus were often implicated but that P. longicaudatus did not harbour the infection. [4]
Morphological characters and mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA sequences showed that P. longicaudatus belongs to the so-called longicaudatus group of Proechimys species, and shares closer phylogenetic affinities with the other members of this clade: P. brevicauda and P. cuvieri . [5] [6] [7]
| Species-level cladogram of the genus Proechimys. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The cladogram has been reconstructed from morphological characters and mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b) sequences. [5] [6] [8] [7] |
The long-tailed spiny rat is a common and adaptable species, being able to tolerate some degree of habitat modification. The dry forests in this part of South America are being cleared for agricultural purposes and it is thought the population trend of this rat is downwards. However, it has a wide range, and a presumed large total population, and the rate of decline is slow, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern". [1]
The short-tailed spiny-rat or Huallaga spiny rat, is a spiny rat species found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
The Guyenne spiny-rat or Cayenne spiny rat, is a spiny rat species found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.
Cuvier's spiny-rat is a spiny rat species found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru and Suriname.
The stiff-spine spiny-rat or Tefe spiny rat, is a spiny rat species found in Brazil and Colombia.
Gardner's spiny-rat is a spiny rat species found in Bolivia and Brazil.
The Guyanan spiny-rat is a spiny rat species found in Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela. The species was first described by George Henry Hamilton Tate in 1939.
Robert's spiny-rat or Para spiny rat, is a spiny rat species found in Brazil. This species is named after the collector Alphonso Robert, who collected the holotype of this species in 1901.
Patton's spiny-rat is a spiny rat species found in Brazil and Peru.
Simons's spiny rat is a spiny rat species found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It was named for American scientific collector Perry O. Simons.
Steere's spiny rat is a spiny rat species found in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru.
Proechimys is a genus of South American spiny rats of the family Echimyidae. All species of the genus are terrestrial. In the lowland Neotropical forests, Proechimys rodents are often the most abundant non-volant mammals. They are recognizable by reason of their elongated heads and long rostra, large and erect ears, narrow and long hind feet, and tails always shorter than head-and-body lengths. The dorsal pelage comprises a mixture of expanded, varyingly stiffened spines — hence the vernacular name of spiny rats — and soft hairs.
Tome's spiny rat, also known as Tomes' spiny rat or the Central American spiny rat, is a species of spiny rat distributed from Honduras to Ecuador. The IUCN has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
The Colombian spiny-rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
The Boyacá spiny rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is endemic to Colombia; it is found primary forest in Carare River valley, Boyacá Department, 100 to 500 meters above sea level. Nocturnal, terrestrial and solitary, it feeds on seeds, fruit and some leaves and insects. It is threatened by habitat loss for mining and agriculture.
The Pacific spiny rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
The Guaira spiny-rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is endemic to Venezuela. It is commonly referred to as 'casiragua' to avoid confusion with true rats (Muroidea)
The Magdalena spiny rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is endemic to Colombia.
The Minca spiny rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is endemic to Colombia.
O'Connell's spiny-rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is endemic to Colombia.
The gray-footed spiny rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
