- Sommeromys
Taxobox
name = "Sommeromys macrorhinos"
regnum =Animal ia
divisio = Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
ordo =Rodent ia
familia =Muridae
subfamilia =Murinae
genus = "Sommeromys"
genus_authority = Musser & Durden, 2002
species = "S. macrorhinos"
binomial = "Sommeromys macrorhinos"
binomial_authority = Musser & Durden, 2002"Sommeromys" is a recently described genus of
rodent (familyMuridae , subfamilyMurinae ) fromSulawesi . The only species is "S. macrorhinos". The genus was described by Musser & Durden (2002).Distribution
"S. macrorhinos" is known from only one specimen, AMNH 226956 (
American Museum of Natural History , catalogue number 226956). This specimen was caught at 2400 m onGunung Tokala , a mountain between theRampi andSeko 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 "."S. macrorhinos" was named after Helmut G. Sommer, Scientific Technician at the
American Museum of Natural History .Characters
"S. macrorhinos" 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 "
Bunomys ", "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):
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 ", which lives on both Sulawesi and the Philippines and the Philippine "Archboldomys ". The "Melasmothrix "-"Tateomys " group may also be related.References
*Musser, G.G. & Durden, L.A. 2002. Sulawesi rodents: description of a new genus and species of Murinae (Muridae, Rodentia) and its parasitic new species of sucking louse (Insecta, Anoplura). American Museum Novitates 3368:1-50.
External links
* [http://diglib1.amnh.org/novitates/i0003-0082-3368-01-0001.pdf PDF file of the original description of "Sommeromys macrorhinos"]
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