Mesomys

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Mesomys
Mesomys hispidus female.jpg
Ferreira's spiny tree-rat
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Echimyidae
Subfamily: Echimyinae
Tribe: Echimyini
Genus: Mesomys
Wagner, 1845
Type species
Mesomys ecaudatus
Species

Mesomys hispidus
Mesomys leniceps
Mesomys occultus
Mesomys stimulax

Contents

EchimysFerrugineusMintern.jpg

Mesomys is a genus of South American spiny rats in the family Echimyidae. [1]

The genus name Mesomys derives from the two ancient greek words μέσος (mésos), meaning "middle of, between", and μῦς (mûs), meaning "mouse, rat". [2] [3] It refers to the fact that these rodents — literally the "middle mouse" — were considered an intermediate form between the genus Loncheres and the genus Echinomys, both of which are now known to be synonyms of Echimys . [4] [5]

Extant species

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Mesomys hispidus Ferreira's spiny tree-ratBolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela
Mesomys leniceps Woolly-headed spiny tree-ratPeru
Mesomys occultus Tufted-tailed spiny tree-ratBrazil
Mesomys stimulax Pará spiny tree-ratBrazil.

Phylogeny

Mesomys is a member of the Echimyini clade of arboreal Echimyidae rodents. [6] The closest relative of Mesomys is Lonchothrix, reflecting the fact that these taxa have once been classified in the Eumysopinae, [1] a subfamily now recognized as an artificial assemblage. [7] These two genera share phylogenetic affinities with several taxa and clades: (i) Echimys, Phyllomys, Makalata, Pattonomys, and Toromys ; (ii) the bamboo rats Dactylomys, Olallamys, Kannabateomys together with Diplomys and Santamartamys ; and (iii) Isothrix. [8]

Genus-level cladogram of the Echimyini.
Echimyini  
         

  Isothrix

  "Eumysopines"  
         
         
         
         

  Pattonomys

  Toromys
  (Giant tree-rat)

         

  Makalata

The cladogram has been reconstructed from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA characters. [9] [10] [11] [12] [7] [13] [14] [15] [6] [8]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Isothrix</i> Genus of mammals belonging to the spiny rat family of rodents

The toros or brush-tailed rats, genus Isothrix, are a group of spiny rats found in tropical South America, particularly in the Amazon Basin.

Owl's spiny rat is a rodent species in the family Echimyidae found in Brazil. It is the only species in the genus Carterodon. Owl's spiny rat has evolved characteristics such as a heightened ability to dig in open grasslands during times of environmental change.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic spiny rat</span> Genus of mammals belonging to the spiny rat family of rodents

The Atlantic spiny rats are all found in the genus Trinomys. They are a group of South American spiny-rats in the family Echimyidae.

Phyllomys is a genus of arboreal spiny rat, geographically restricted to the forests of eastern Brazil.

<i>Echimys</i> Genus of mammals belonging to the spiny rat family of rodents

Echimys is a genus of the spiny rats family, the Echimyidae. Members of this genus are collectively called spiny tree-rats.

<i>Dactylomys</i> Genus of mammals belonging to the spiny rat family of rodents

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<i>Olallamys</i> Genus of mammals belonging to the spiny rat family of rodents

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<i>Diplomys</i> Genus of mammals belonging to the spiny rat family of rodents

Diplomys is a genus of rodent in the family Echimyidae. They are found in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia and Panama.

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<i>Plagiodontia</i> Genus of mammals belonging to the hutia subfamily of rodents

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<i>Thrichomys</i> Genus of mammals belonging to the spiny rat family of rodents

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Echimyidae</span> Family of rodents

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myocastorini</span> A tribe of mammals belonging to the spiny rat family of rodents

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Echimyini</span> A tribe of mammals belonging to the spiny rat family of rodents

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Echimyinae</span> A subfamily of mammals belonging to the spiny rat family of rodents

Echimyinae is a subfamily of rodents belonging to the spiny rats family Echimyidae. It contains 14 arboreal genera—all the members of the tribe Echimyini, plus Callistomys—a few terrestrial genera, and a subaquatic genus (Myocastor).

References

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  3. Bailly, Anatole. "Greek-french dictionary online". www.tabularium.be. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
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