Margaretamys | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Muridae |
Subfamily: | Murinae |
Tribe: | Rattini |
Genus: | Margaretamys Musser, 1981 |
Type species | |
Mus beccarii | |
Species | |
Margaretamys beccarii |
Margaretamys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. [1] Up until 1973, it was known from only few examples of one species. Then Guy G. Musser collected more examples of this species during his stay in Sulawesi, as well as collecting two new species. And in 1981, as part of his huge project of sorting through the then very large genus Rattus, he described these as members of the new genus, Margaretamys. [2]
The known distribution is the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Samples are known from the northern peninsula, the central core and the southeastern peninsula, ranging from tropical lowlands to mountain ranges up to about 2250 m. Each species is represented by only few examples, and have proven difficult to catch, so each species may have wider distributions and more species may exist in areas not yet surveyed.
It contains the following species:
The Flores giant rat is a rodent of the family Muridae that occurs on the island of Flores in Indonesia. It has been recorded in Rutong Protection Forest. The species is found in primary, secondary and disturbed forest over a wide range of elevations. Its head and body length is 41–45 cm (16–17.5 in) and its tail length is 33–70 cm (13–27.5 in). These dimensions are about twice as large as those of a typical brown rat, which suggests about eight times the body mass.
The Old World rats and mice, part of the subfamily Murinae in the family Muridae, comprise at least 519 species. Members of this subfamily are called murines. In terms of species richness, this subfamily is larger than all mammal families except the Cricetidae and Muridae, and is larger than all mammal orders except the bats and the remainder of the rodents.
Bunomys is a genus of rodent from Sulawesi and Buton Island.
Maxomys is a genus of rodents, widespread in Southeast Asia. They are mid-sized rodents, similar to rats, that live on the ground of tropical rainforests. There they build nests, padded with fallen leaves from trees. They feed on roots, fallen fruit, and other plants, as well as insects. All species are shy and avoid food from humans.
The shrewlike rats, genus Rhynchomys, also known as the tweezer-beaked rats are a group of unusual Old World rats found only on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. They look a great deal like shrews and are an example of convergent evolution. Shrewlike rats evolved to be vermivores and insectivores feeding on soft-bodied invertebrates associated with leaf litter.
The Mindoro climbing rat or Mindoro rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in the Philippines, and is known only from Ilong Peak in the Halcon Mountains. It is the only species in the genus Anonymomys. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Sulawesi soft-furred rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus Eropeplus. It is found only in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The long-footed water rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in the mountains of southern Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forest.
Beccari's margareta rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.
The elegant margareta rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.
The little margareta rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.
The Sulawesian shrew rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus Melasmothrix. It is found only in central Sulawesi, Indonesia, and is known from the localities of Rano Rano and Mount Nokilalaki.
Koopman's rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only on Peleng island, located in the Banggai Islands off the southeastern coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The Peleng rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only on Peleng Island off the southeastern coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The Salokko rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
Taeromys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae found exclusively in Sulawesi, Indonesia. It contains the following species:
Guy Graham Musser was an American zoologist. His main research was in the field of the rodent subfamily Murinae, in which he has described many new species.
Christine's margareta rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Indonesia on the island of Sulawesi, in a mountainous part of the southeastern peninsula. It was first discovered by an expedition led by Alessio Mortelliti in 2011.
The Sulawesi montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Indonesia. It includes the highlands of Sulawesi.
Rattini is a very large, diverse tribe of muroid rodents in the subfamily Murinae. They are found throughout Asia and Australasia, with a few species ranging into Europe and northern Africa. The most well-known members of this group are the true rats, several species of which have been introduced worldwide.