Sumichrast's Vesper Rat

Sumichrast's vesper rat Temporal range: Recent
Nyctomys sumichrasti (right)
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Tylomyinae
Tribe:	Nyctomyini
Genus:	Nyctomys Saussure, 1860
Species:	N. sumichrasti
Binomial name
Nyctomys sumichrasti (Saussure, 1860)

Sumichrast's vesper rat (scientific name Nyctomys sumichrasti) is a rodent of the family Cricetidae found from southern Mexico to Panama. The adult length is 11–13 cm, with a tail length of 8.5-15.5 cm. It is one of the more brightly coloured rats, with a pinkish-brown back and white underparts. The first toe on each foot is thumb-like to aid the gripping of twigs. N. sumichrasti is unusual in that it is arboreal, and builds nests of twigs and leaves. It is nocturnal and herbivorous, eating plants such as figs and avocados.

References

• Samudio, R., Pino, J. & Reid, F. (2008). Nyctomys sumichrasti. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 27 February 2009.
• Clutton-Brock, Juliet (ed.). 2004. Mouse-like Rodents. pp150–159 in Animal (David Burnley ed.). London, Dorling Kindersley.
• Musser, Guy G.; Carleton, Michael D. (16 November 2005). "Superfamily Muroidea (pp. 894-1531)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 1187. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=13000982.