Brush-furred mouse
Encyclopedia
The brush-furred mice, genus Lophuromys are a peculiar group of rodent
s found in sub-Saharan Africa
. They are members of the subfamily Deomyinae
, a group only identifiable through molecular analysis
. Lophuromys is also known as the brush-furred rats, harsh-furred rats or coarse-haired mice.
. They are peculiar looking for several reasons. The coat varies depending on species but range from tan to greenish greys and dark brown. Some species have an almost purplish tint to the pelage and others can be speckled. The underside is rusty, orange, brown, or cream colored. They are chunky mice with relatively short legs.
Most animals have noticeable scar
s, notched ears, or are missing part of their tails. The skin is delicate and the animals appear to use this as a predator avoidance technique. The tail breaks easily and may be lost so that the animal can escape. Once lost, it does not regenerate
. The skin tears easily, particularly in strategic positions such as the scruff of the neck. In fact, if an animal is held by the scruff of the neck, it is capable of struggling its way free by tearing itself loose leaving behind a patch of skin containing hair and epidermis. Specimens found in museum
s are rarely seen that lack tears that have been sewn together.
es. They are generally excluded from dry savannahs
and forests with dense canopies. They are variable in degree of diurnality
versus nocturnality.
They appear to feed more on animal matter than most muroids. The proportion of animal material in the diet ranges from 40-100% depending on species (Dieterlan, 1976 in Nowak, 1999). Food consists of ant
s, other insect
s, other invertebrate
s, small vertebrate
s, carrion
, and plant matter.
for over 3 years in captivity
.
Allopatric speciation
appears to have played an important role in shaping the evolution of this genus. Research conducted on the group suggests that isolated species exist a relatively short distance away from one another. Gene flow
is either absent or greatly restricted among these isolated pockets. This has led to differences detectable by karyotype
, allozyme
s, and DNA sequencing
. The number of recognized species in this genus has increased in recent years and is probably still not representative of the true diversity of this group.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s found in sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
. They are members of the subfamily Deomyinae
Deomyinae
The subfamily Deomyinae consists of four genera of mouse-like rodents that were placed in the subfamilies Murinae and Dendromurinae until very recently. They are sometimes called Acomyinae, particularly in references that predate the discovery that the link rat, Deomys ferugineus, is part of the...
, a group only identifiable through molecular analysis
Molecular phylogeny
Molecular phylogenetics is the analysis of hereditary molecular differences, mainly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. The result of a molecular phylogenetic analysis is expressed in a phylogenetic tree...
. Lophuromys is also known as the brush-furred rats, harsh-furred rats or coarse-haired mice.
Characteristics
The brush-furred mice are so named due to the unique, stiff hairs that make up their pelage. The texture is similar to a soft brushHairbrush
A hairbrush is a stick brush with rigid or soft bristles used in hair care for smoothing, styling, and detangling human hair, or for grooming an animal's fur.-Human use:...
. They are peculiar looking for several reasons. The coat varies depending on species but range from tan to greenish greys and dark brown. Some species have an almost purplish tint to the pelage and others can be speckled. The underside is rusty, orange, brown, or cream colored. They are chunky mice with relatively short legs.
Most animals have noticeable scar
Scar
Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after injury. A scar results from the biological process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. With the exception of very minor lesions, every wound results in...
s, notched ears, or are missing part of their tails. The skin is delicate and the animals appear to use this as a predator avoidance technique. The tail breaks easily and may be lost so that the animal can escape. Once lost, it does not regenerate
Regeneration (biology)
In biology, regeneration is the process of renewal, restoration, and growth that makes genomes, cells, organs, organisms, and ecosystems resilient to natural fluctuations or events that cause disturbance or damage. Every species is capable of regeneration, from bacteria to humans. At its most...
. The skin tears easily, particularly in strategic positions such as the scruff of the neck. In fact, if an animal is held by the scruff of the neck, it is capable of struggling its way free by tearing itself loose leaving behind a patch of skin containing hair and epidermis. Specimens found in museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
s are rarely seen that lack tears that have been sewn together.
Habitat and diet
Brush-furred mice appear to require moist areas and perhaps grassGrass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es. They are generally excluded from dry savannahs
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
and forests with dense canopies. They are variable in degree of diurnality
Diurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
versus nocturnality.
They appear to feed more on animal matter than most muroids. The proportion of animal material in the diet ranges from 40-100% depending on species (Dieterlan, 1976 in Nowak, 1999). Food consists of ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s, other insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, other invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s, small vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
s, carrion
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
, and plant matter.
Behaviour
Brush-furred mice are solitary and are reported to fight when placed together. This may contribute to the wounds found on individuals. A brush-furred mouse was recorded to have livedLongevity
The word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
for over 3 years in captivity
Captivity (animal)
Animals that live under human care are in captivity. Captivity can be used as a generalizing term to describe the keeping of either domesticated animals or wild animals. This may include for example farms, private homes and zoos...
.
Allopatric speciation
Allopatric speciation
Allopatric speciation or geographic speciation is speciation that occurs when biological populations of the same species become isolated due to geographical changes such as mountain building or social changes such as emigration...
appears to have played an important role in shaping the evolution of this genus. Research conducted on the group suggests that isolated species exist a relatively short distance away from one another. Gene flow
Gene flow
In population genetics, gene flow is the transfer of alleles of genes from one population to another.Migration into or out of a population may be responsible for a marked change in allele frequencies...
is either absent or greatly restricted among these isolated pockets. This has led to differences detectable by karyotype
Karyotype
A karyotype is the number and appearance of chromosomes in the nucleus of an eukaryotic cell. The term is also used for the complete set of chromosomes in a species, or an individual organism.p28...
, allozyme
Allozyme
Variant forms of an enzyme that are coded by different alleles at the same locus are called allozymes. These are opposed to isozymes, which are enzymes that perform the same function, but which are coded by genes located at different loci....
s, and DNA sequencing
DNA sequencing
DNA sequencing includes several methods and technologies that are used for determining the order of the nucleotide bases—adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine—in a molecule of DNA....
. The number of recognized species in this genus has increased in recent years and is probably still not representative of the true diversity of this group.
Species
Genus Lophuromys - brush-furred mice- Subgenus Kivumys
- Yellow-bellied Brush-furred RatYellow-bellied Brush-furred RatThe Yellow-bellied Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Republic of the Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo....
, Lophuromys luteogaster - Medium-tailed Brush-furred RatMedium-tailed Brush-furred RatThe Medium-tailed Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
, Lophuromys medicaudatus - Woosnam's Brush-furred RatWoosnam's Brush-furred RatThe Woosnam's Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
, Lophuromys woosnami
- Yellow-bellied Brush-furred Rat
- Subgenus Lophuromys
- Angolan Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys angolensis
- Ansorge's Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys ansorgei
- Gray Brush-furred RatGray Brush-furred RatThe Gray Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Democratic Republic of the Congo....
, Lophuromys aquilus - Short-tailed Brush-furred RatShort-tailed Brush-furred RatThe Short-tailed Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Ethiopia....
, Lophuromys brevicaudus - Brown Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys brunneus
- Chercher Mountains Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys chercherensis
- Ethiopian Forest Brush-furred RatEthiopian Forest Brush-furred RatThe Ethiopian Forest Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Ethiopia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Lophuromys chrysopus - Dieterlen's Brush-furred MouseDieterlen's Brush-furred MouseDieterlen's Brush-Furred Mouse or Mt Oku Brush-Furred Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Cameroon.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
, Lophuromys dieterleni - Dudu's Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys dudui
- Eisentraut's Brush-furred Rat, Lophuromys eisentrauti
- Yellow-spotted Brush-furred RatYellow-spotted Brush-furred RatThe Yellow-spotted Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia....
, Lophuromys flavopunctatus - Hutterer's Brush-furred MouseHutterer's Brush-furred MouseHutterer's Brush-furred Mouse or Hutterer's Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Democratic Republic of the Congo....
, Lophuromys huttereri - Kilonzo's Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys kilonzoi
- Lophuromys laticeps
- Lophuromys machangui
- Makundi's Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys makundii
- Lophuromys margarettae
- Black-clawed Brush-furred RatBlack-clawed Brush-furred RatThe Black-clawed Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Ethiopia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Lophuromys melanonyx - Menagesha Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys menageshae
- Fire-bellied Brush-furred RatFire-bellied Brush-furred RatThe Fire-bellied Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon....
, Lophuromys nudicaudus - False Rusty-bellied Brush-furred Rat, Lophuromys pseudosikapusi
- Rahm's Brush-furred RatRahm's Brush-furred RatRahm's Brush-furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
, Lophuromys rahmi - Lophuromys rita
- Mount Cameroon Brush-furred RatMount Cameroon Brush-furred RatThe Mount Cameroon Brush-furred Rat or Roseveari's Brush-furred Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Cameroon....
, Lophuromys roseveari - Sabuni's Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys sabunii
- Rusty-bellied Brush-furred RatRusty-bellied Brush-furred RatThe Rusty-Bellied Brush-Furred Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone,...
, Lophuromys sikapusi - Lophuromys simensis
- Stanley's Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys stanleyi
- Verhagen's Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys verhageni
- Zena Brush-furred Mouse, Lophuromys zena