Malagasy mountain mouse

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Malagasy mountain mouse

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Nesomyidae
Genus: Monticolomys
Carleton & Goodman, 1996
Species:
M. koopmani
Binomial name
Monticolomys koopmani
Carleton & Goodman, 1996
Known collection localities of Monticolomys koopmani

The Malagasy mountain mouse or Koopman's montane voalavo (Monticolomys koopmani) is a rodent within the subfamily Nesomyinae of the family Nesomyidae. It is monotypic within the genus Monticolomys, and is closely related to the big-footed mouse (Macrotarsomys). It is found in the highlands of eastern Madagascar. A small mouse-like rodent, it is dark brown on the upperparts and dark gray below. It has small, rounded, densely haired ears and broad feet with well-developed pads. The long tail lacks a tuft at the tip. The skull is delicate and lacks crests and ridges on its roof.

First collected in 1929, the Malagasy mountain mouse was not formally described until 1996, but it is now known to have a broad distribution. Active during the night, it occurs in both

Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List
.

Taxonomy

A

generic name Monticolomys means "mountain-dwelling mouse" and refers to the animal's montane habitat, and the specific name koopmani honors Karl Koopman for his many contributions to mammalian systematics.[4] Common names in use for the animal also include "Koopman's montane voalavo"[5] and "Malagasy mountain mouse".[1]

The indigenous rodents of Madagascar, the

Gymnuromys, and Brachytarsomys.[10]

Description

The Malagasy mountain mouse is a small, mouse-like rodent, and quite different in appearance from most other nesomyines.

mammae.[14] Head and body length is 84 to 101 mm (3.3 to 4.0 in), tail length is 116 to 143 mm (4.6 to 5.6 in), hindfoot length is 23 to 25 mm (0.91 to 0.98 in), ear length is 15 to 20 mm (0.59 to 0.79 in), and body mass is 18.5 to 27.5 g (0.65 to 0.97 oz).[15]

The skull is small and delicate. The front part, the rostrum, is narrow and relatively long. The

caudal (tail) vertebrae.[17]

The upper

cusps. The second molars, although decidedly smaller than the first, are similar in their crown morphology, but the much smaller third molars are reduced and more distinct from the first molars in morphology.[17] The molars lack accessory crests and other features. Each of the upper molars is three-rooted, whereas the lowers have two roots.[18] The molars are quite similar to those of Macrotarsomys, and differ only in minor details.[19]

Distribution and ecology

The species' range is now known to extend across the mountain ranges of eastern Madagascar from the

Subfossil remains have been found in Mahajanga Province (northwestern Madagascar).[26] Malagasy mountain mouse is morphologically uniform across its wide distribution.[27]

The Malagasy mountain mouse is nocturnal and solitary and produces litters of up to three offspring.

Microgale taiva).[23] All five specimens from Andohahela were trapped on the ground, as was the specimen caught in Ankaratra in 1996.[24] Its diet includes fruits and seeds;[28] in captivity, it eats Agarista fruits.[29]

Conservation status

As Malagasy mountain mouse is now known to be a widespread, common species occurring in at least one

Least Concern". However, fires pose a threat in montane forest and, at lower elevations, its habitat is being converted into agricultural land.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T136539A22233042.en
    . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 232
  3. ^ Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 233
  4. ^ Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 242
  5. ^ Musser and Carleton, 2005, p. 952
  6. ^ Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 249
  7. ^ Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 250
  8. ^ Jansa et al., 1999, pp. 262–263
  9. ^ Jansa et al., 1999, p. 263
  10. ^ Jansa and Weksler, 2004, fig. 1
  11. ^ a b Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 243
  12. ^ a b Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 235
  13. ^ Carleton and Goodman, 1996, pp. 243–244
  14. ^ a b c d Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 236
  15. ^ Carleton and Goodman, 1996, table 21-2; Goodman et al., 1999, table 14-2
  16. ^ a b Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 237
  17. ^ a b Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 238
  18. ^ a b Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 239
  19. ^ Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 245
  20. ^ Maminirina et al., 2008, p. 716
  21. ^ Rasolonondrasana and Goodman, 2006, p. 81
  22. ^ Goodman et al., 1996, pp. 111, 113, 118
  23. ^ a b Carleton and Goodman, 1996, p. 240
  24. ^ a b Goodman et al., 1999, p. 231
  25. ^ Goodman et al., 1999, p. 232
  26. ^ Mein et al., 2010, p. 105
  27. ^ Goodman et al., 1999, p. 232; Maminirina et al., 2008, p. 716
  28. ^ a b Goodman et al., 2003, table 13.4
  29. ^ Rasolonondrasana and Goodman, 2006, p. 80

Literature cited

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