Sommeromys
Encyclopedia
Sommer’s Sulawesi Rat is a recently described species of rodent
(family Muridae
, subfamily Murinae
) from Sulawesi
. It is only species of genus Sommeromys. The species was described by Musser & Durden (2002).
, catalogue number 226956). This specimen was caught at 2400 m on Gunung Tokala, a mountain between the Rampi and Seko
valleys in the province of Sulawesi Tengah, in primary mossy forest which was somewhat disturbed by human activities. The describers expected that the genus also occurs in other high montane forests of Sulawesi.
Sommer’s Sulawesi Rat was named after Helmut G. Sommer, Scientific Technician at the American Museum of Natural History
.
, Paruromys and Taeromys
do not share the diagnostic characters of Sommeromys and are larger. Haeromys
species are smaller (head-body 62-78 mm, tail up to 133 mm). Lenomys and Eropeplus species are much bigger (up to 301 and 255 mm, respectively), and have a tail which is as long as head-body (Lenomys) or somewhat longer (Eropeplus). Margaretamys
species are somewhat larger (96-197 mm). Echiothrix
is much larger (up to 225 mm), has a prolonged muzzle and prolonged rostra and a bicolored tail (up to 258 mm). Melasmothrix has a dark chestnut fur, a short tail and paws and long claws. Tateomys rhinogradoides is larger, with a dark, brownish grey pelage, robust hindfeet and a long tail. T. macrocercus is smaller than T. rhinogradoides, has a similar fur colour, but has an extremely long tail, long hindfeet and narrow but long claws on the hind feet. Crunomys celebensis has a shorter and broader rostrum.
Measurements (all in mm):
|Head-body length>
|Tail length
|Length of hind feet
|Length of ear16
" of Sulawesi and the Philippines. It is especially related to Crunomys
, which lives on both Sulawesi and the Philippines and the Philippine Archboldomys
. The Melasmothrix-Tateomys
group may also be related.
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....
(family Muridae
Muridae
Muridae is the largest family of mammals. It contains over 600 species found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. They have been introduced worldwide. The group includes true mice and rats, gerbils, and relatives....
, subfamily Murinae
Murinae
The Old World rats and mice, part of the subfamily Murinae in the family Muridae, comprise at least 519 species. 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...
) from Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
. It is only species of genus Sommeromys. The species was described by Musser & Durden (2002).
Distribution
S. macrorhinos is known from only one specimen, AMNH 226956 (American Museum of Natural HistoryAmerican Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
, catalogue number 226956). This specimen was caught at 2400 m on Gunung Tokala, a mountain between the Rampi and Seko
Seko
Seko is an area set in a backdrop of paddy fields, prairie with the Uro and Betue river, flowing along the bamboo lined banks. It is located 135 km from Masamba and is one of the hamlets of North Luwu, South Sulawesi province which distinctly varies in the pollution of the city to the serene...
valleys in the province of Sulawesi Tengah, in primary mossy forest which was somewhat disturbed by human activities. The describers expected that the genus also occurs in other high montane forests of Sulawesi.
Discovery
On the first of August, 1973, the NAMRU team that would discover S. macrorhinos reached Gunung Tokala. Despite a heavy, cold rain, someone set some Victor rat traps and found one specimen each of Tateomys rhinogradoides and S. macrorhinos the following day. On the specimen of S. macrorhinos, a louse was found, which was also a new species, Hoplopleura sommeri.Sommer’s Sulawesi Rat was named after Helmut G. Sommer, Scientific Technician at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
.
Characters
Sommer’s Sulawesi Rat is extremely small and has a long muzzle and an extremely long tail, both absolutely and relatively. It mainly feeds on insects. The stomach of the only known specimen contained some nematodes, fly eggs and fragments of insects. Species of BunomysBunomys
Bunomys is a genus of rodent from Sulawesi and Butung Island.-Species:Genus Bunomys*Andrew's Hill Rat, Bunomys andrewsi J. A...
, Paruromys and Taeromys
Taeromys
Taeromys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Salokko Rat * Lovely-haired Rat * Celebes Rat...
do not share the diagnostic characters of Sommeromys and are larger. Haeromys
Haeromys
Haeromys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Ranee Mouse * Minahassa Ranee Mouse * Lesser Ranee Mouse...
species are smaller (head-body 62-78 mm, tail up to 133 mm). Lenomys and Eropeplus species are much bigger (up to 301 and 255 mm, respectively), and have a tail which is as long as head-body (Lenomys) or somewhat longer (Eropeplus). Margaretamys
Margaretamys
Margaretamys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Beccari's Margareta Rat * Elegant Margareta Rat * Little Margareta Rat...
species are somewhat larger (96-197 mm). Echiothrix
Echiothrix
Echiothrix is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Central Sulawesi Spiny Rat * Sulawesi Spiny Rat...
is much larger (up to 225 mm), has a prolonged muzzle and prolonged rostra and a bicolored tail (up to 258 mm). Melasmothrix has a dark chestnut fur, a short tail and paws and long claws. Tateomys rhinogradoides is larger, with a dark, brownish grey pelage, robust hindfeet and a long tail. T. macrocercus is smaller than T. rhinogradoides, has a similar fur colour, but has an extremely long tail, long hindfeet and narrow but long claws on the hind feet. Crunomys celebensis has a shorter and broader rostrum.
Measurements (all in mm):
|Tail length
|Length of hind feet
|Length of ear
Relationships
According to the discoverers, S. macrorhinos is a member of the so-called "Old Endemics" of Sulawesi and the Philippines. It is especially related to Crunomys
Crunomys
Crunomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.It contains the following species:* Celebes Shrew Rat * Northern Luzon Shrew Rat * Mindanao Shrew Rat...
, which lives on both Sulawesi and the Philippines and the Philippine Archboldomys
Archboldomys
Archboldomys, the shrew-mice, are a genus of rodents in the family Muridae. They are carnivores that feed on invertebrates much like shrews do...
. The Melasmothrix-Tateomys
Tateomys
Tateomys is a genus of rodent from Sulawesi.Both species have been classified as vulnerable by IUCN.-Species:*Genus Tateomys**Long-tailed Shrew Rat - Tateomys macrocercus Musser, 1982...
group may also be related.