Tokudaia
Encyclopedia
Tokudaia is a genus of murine
rodent
native to Japan
. Known as Ryūkyū spiny rats or spinous country-rats, population groups exist on several non-contiguous islands. Despite differences in name and appearance, they are the closest living relatives of the Eurasian field mouse (Apodemus
).
Named species
are:
At least Tokudaia osimensis may be a cryptic species complex
.
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...
rodent
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....
native to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Known as Ryūkyū spiny rats or spinous country-rats, population groups exist on several non-contiguous islands. Despite differences in name and appearance, they are the closest living relatives of the Eurasian field mouse (Apodemus
Apodemus
Apodemus is the genus of Muridae which contains the Eurasian field mice. Related to the Ryūkyū spiny rats and the prehistoric Rhagamys – and far more distantly to Mus and Malacomys –, it includes the following species:*Striped Field Mouse, Apodemus agrarius*Alpine Field Mouse, Apodemus...
).
Named species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are:
- Muennink's Spiny RatMuennink's Spiny RatMuennink's Spiny Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Okinawa Island, Japan.Its natural habitat is temperate forests....
, Tokudaia muenninki - Ryukyu Spiny RatRyukyu Spiny RatThe Ryukyu Spiny Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Japan.Its natural habitat is temperate forests.-References:* Ishii, N. 2000. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007....
, Tokudaia osimensis - Tokunoshima Spiny Rat, Tokudaia tokunoshimensis
At least Tokudaia osimensis may be a cryptic species complex
Cryptic species complex
In biology, a cryptic species complex is a group of species which satisfy the biological definition of species—that is, they are reproductively isolated from each other—but whose morphology is very similar ....
.